36. Kevin Ritz

For a brief but electric window in the mid-1990s, Kevin Ritz was the definition of "Coors Field Proof." Arriving as an expansion draft selection from Detroit, Ritz didn't just survive the thin air of Denver; he thrived in it, providing the Colorado Rockies with the first legitimate ace in franchise history.

During the 1995 campaign, Ritz emerged as the backbone of the "Blake Street Bombers" era, leading the club to its first-ever postseason appearance. He authored a season of such profound efficiency that he finished 8th in the National League in bWAR for pitchers (4.5).  The year after he won 17 games, a club record that stood for fourteen years. It was a season of pure survival and grit; while he led the National League in earned runs allowed (125), he also led his team in innings pitched (213) and games started (35).

Ritz struggled afterward, as in 1997 and 1998, as shoulder injuries began to take their toll. After undergoing major surgery, he attempted a professional comeback but was eventually forced into retirement. With the Rockies, Ritz compiled 39 wins and 337 strikeouts, setting a then-franchise record with 17 victories in 1996.