40. Rick Helling

Drafted in the first round out of Stanford in 1992, Rick Helling cracked the big leagues by 1994, but struggled to find a definitive role in an explosive, hitter-friendly environment. Bouncing between the starting rotation and the bullpen during his early development, he had an incomplete initial run in Arlington and was largely a footnote when the team traded him to the Florida Marlins midway through the 1996 season.

Yet, a year later, the baseball gods engineered a perfect homecoming. Texas re-acquired Helling in an August 1997 trade, setting the stage for a second stint that would permanently rewrite his legacy in the Lone Star State. No longer a timid young arm trying to find his footing, he stepped directly into the rotation and became an absolute workhorse, anchoring a high-powered Texas squad poised to contend for American League West titles.

That incredible transformation reached a memorable highlight during a fantastic 1998 season. Helling confidently challenged the tough, run-heavy environment of the late 1990s by posting an impressive 20–7 record. This tied him with David Cone and Roger Clemens for the most wins in the American League. He truly became the go-to pitcher for Texas, setting a club record with 11 wins on the road and pitching a tough 216.1 innings, helping the Rangers secure a division title.

Helling established himself as a model of exceptional durability over the next three seasons, consistently recording at least 34 starts and 215 innings annually through 2001. He challenged hitters with a heavy, over-the-top fastball inside the notorious launchpad of The Ballpark in Arlington. His high-volume workload came with a cost: he allowed many home runs, including leading the majors with 41 long balls in 1999. Despite pitching in a tough era for pitchers, Helling was a key contributor to the franchise, finishing with an impressive 68–51 overall record in Texas and frequently giving his potent offense opportunities to score.

Following the 2001 campaign, his journey led him to Arizona and Baltimore, setting up a poetic late-career twist. Helling rejoined the Marlins mid-2003, filling a key swingman role and pitching crucial frames to help Florida win the World Series.

With Texas, Helling appeared in 165 games (151 starts). And compiled a winning 68–51 record while logging 982.1 innings with 688 strikeouts.