11. Dennis Martinez

When Dennis Martínez arrived in Montreal mid-way through the 1986 season, he was a deeply respected veteran who had spent his career anchoring the Baltimore Orioles but was looking for a completely fresh start. The slender right-hander from Granada—the very first Nicaraguan-born player to ever reach the major leagues—instantly found a second home in Quebec. Over a spectacular late-career resurgence, "El Presidente" didn't just rebuild his trajectory; he orchestrated the finest, most elite pitching chapter of his 23-year big-league journey.

With a fantastic combination of sharp breaking balls, perfect control, and a passionate competitive spirit, Martínez became the dependable backbone of a young, lively Expos team. He consistently delivered an impressive streak of performances at Stade Olympique, earning three straight National League All-Star selections from 1990 to 1992. During this time, he regularly took on large workloads of over 200 innings, proudly serving as the steady anchor of the starting rotation.

Martínez’s late-career resurgence reached a truly memorable peak with a stunning 1991 performance. At 37, he dominated National League lineups, winning the NL ERA Title with a fantastic, career-best 2.39. He also led the league in complete games (9) and shutouts (5), finishing just outside the top spot in the NL Cy Young Award voting. This season truly highlighted his exceptional skill and resilience. The defining moment of that historic summer took place on July 28 at Dodger Stadium. In front of a stunned crowd in Los Angeles, Martínez authored the ultimate masterpiece of franchise history, retiring all 27 batters he faced to throw a flawless, 2–0 perfect game—a crowning theatrical achievement that permanently solidified his status as an absolute national hero in his homeland and a legend in Montreal.

Martínez maintained high-leverage performance during the 1993 season, concluding his lengthy tenure in Canada with precisely 100 wins and 973 strikeouts while playing for the Expos. After that season, he became a free agent and helped lead the Cleveland Indians to an American League pennant, surpassing 240 career wins.

In Montreal, he made 241 appearances (233 starts) with a 100–72 record, a microscopic 3.06 ERA, and a premium 1.15 WHIP. He threw 1,617.2 innings, recording 41 complete games, 18 shutouts, and 973 strikeouts. Martínez was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.