Kevin Ritz
Born: 6/8/1965 in Eatontown, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1989-07-15 | Final Game: 1998-05-16
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Kevin D. Ritz
Biography
Kevin Ritz, born in 1965, was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1989 until 1998. Known for his competitive spirit and versatility on the mound, Ritz made his mark during a transitional period in baseball characterized by both a focus on offensive prowess and the evolving strategies of pitching. Throughout his career, he accumulated a record of 45 wins and 56 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.35. He recorded a total of 462 strikeouts and secured 2 saves, showcasing his ability to both start games and contribute from the bullpen.
Ritz's playing style was defined by his resilience and determination, traits that served him well as he navigated the challenges of a pitching career during the late 20th century. His time in the league coincided with the rise of free agency and the increasing emphasis on player performance metrics, which shaped the way pitchers were evaluated. As a competitor in a dynamic era of baseball, Ritz's contributions on the mound remain a testament to his enduring passion for the game.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 56 | 151 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 753.3 | 848 | 448 | 69 | 377 | 462 | 5.35 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | DET | AL | 4 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 74.0 | 75 | 36 | 44 | 56 | 4.38 | 535.9 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.3 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 11.05 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | DET | AL | 0 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.3 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 9 | 11.74 | -1274.4 |
| 1992 | DET | AL | 2 | 5 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80.3 | 88 | 50 | 44 | 57 | 5.60 | -43.0 |
| 1994 | COL | NL | 5 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73.7 | 88 | 46 | 35 | 53 | 5.62 | 652.4 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | 11 | 11 | 31 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 173.3 | 171 | 81 | 65 | 120 | 4.21 | 1362.4 |
| 1996 | COL | NL | 17 | 11 | 35 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 213.0 | 236 | 125 | 105 | 105 | 5.28 | -3820.9 |
| 1997 | COL | NL | 6 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 107.3 | 142 | 70 | 46 | 56 | 5.87 | -2544.7 |
| 1998 | COL | NL | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 11.00 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 171 | 14 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 77 | 0.158 | 0.226 | 0.193 | 0.419 | -540.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | DET | AL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | DET | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1992 | DET | AL | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1994 | COL | NL | 15 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | 31 | 48 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 0.188 | -320.2 |
| 1996 | COL | NL | 35 | 65 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 0.231 | -220.0 |
| 1997 | COL | NL | 18 | 35 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 0.057 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | COL | NL | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NLDS1 | COL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7.0 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7.71 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NLDS1 | COL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7.0 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7.71 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 151 | 130 | 60 | 149 | 2 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | DET | P | 12 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | DET | P | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | DET | P | 11 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | DET | P | 23 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | COL | P | 15 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 1995 | COL | P | 31 | 28 | 10 | 39 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | COL | P | 35 | 35 | 18 | 51 | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 | COL | P | 18 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| 1998 | COL | P | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 151 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | COL | NL | $3,000,000 |
| 1998 | COL | NL | $3,500,000 |
| 1997 | COL | NL | $2,500,000 |
| 1996 | COL | NL | $740,000 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | $447,223 |
| 1994 | COL | NL | $165,000 |
| 1992 | DET | AL | $125,000 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | $118,000 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | $68,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $10,663,223 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Hills Community College | Centerville | IA | 1985 |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa | IA | 1984 |