Kevin Ritz was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher for various teams during his career. He was born on June 8, 1965, in Eatontown, New Jersey, and attended Ocean Township High School. Ritz was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft and made his debut in the major leagues in 1989.
Ritz played for the Detroit Tigers from 1989 to 1992, where he had a record of 25 wins and 32 losses. He then played for the Colorado Rockies from 1993 to 1996, where he had a record of 32 wins and 46 losses. Ritz was known for his fastball and slider, which he used to strike out batters.
In 1997, Ritz signed with the Florida Marlins and had a career-best season, with a record of 11 wins and 11 losses. He also had a career-best ERA of 3.82 and struck out 128 batters. Ritz played for the Marlins for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1999.
Ritz played for the Indians for one season before retiring from baseball in 2000. He finished his career with a record of 68 wins and 94 losses and an ERA of 4.34. Ritz was known for his durability, as he pitched over 200 innings in three seasons during his career.
After retiring from baseball, Ritz became a real estate agent in Colorado. He also coached youth baseball and worked as a pitching coach for the Colorado Rockies' minor league system.
In 2011, Ritz was inducted into the Ocean Township High School Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Monmouth County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Overall, Kevin Ritz had a successful career as a professional baseball player, playing for various teams and earning recognition for his pitching abilities. After retiring from baseball, he continued to be involved in the sport as a coach and mentor to young players.
⚾