By Michael Letendre

The Bristol Blues have more than a few pitching studs on its roster in 2022.

With a team ERA of 3.25 — a really good tally — the squad managed to seize victories in 31 out of its first 43 games.

In terms of pitching leaders, Bristol has a ton of talented chuckers at its disposal.

Let’s take a quick look at some of those standouts suiting up for the Blues this year:

Colin McVeigh

Coming into Saturday’s night showdown against Danbury, McVeigh had compiled a 4-1 ledger over 36 innings of action.

He’s allowed seven runs for a slick 1.73 ERA.

McVeigh carries a 3.80-to-1.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has only allowed 10 free passes in 2022.

He’s started five games, pitching in 10 overall and proved can pitch as a starter of come out of the dugout in relief.

His 38 strikeouts and four victories lead the Blue this season.

McVeigh has gone 3-1 over the month of July which included a four-hit, zero run, and three strikeouts stint over six strong innings in Bristol’s 8-1 victory over North Adams back on July 14. 

Don’t forget, he also saw a little time in the NECBL All-Star game last week, throwing a third of an inning that included a strikeout.

He’s been pitching extremely well as of late and should see time on the hill when the playoffs roll around to open the month of August.

Opponents are batting .228 against the Blues this season and against McVeigh, those same batters are hitting just .181 overall.

Luke Garofalo

Bristol’s saves leader has put together an eventful season as the reliever carries a tremendous ERA of 0.73.

Garofalo scooped up 17 strikeouts in his 12.1 innings of action, allowing just one earned run over those encounters.

Overall, Garofalo is 2-0 on the campaign and is tied for third on the Blues in victories.

He’s handed out just three walks and 13 hits with an opponent’s batting average of .250 which is just a little above the team average.

Batters have tallied only six hits off of Garofalo — another All-Star — and walked just two batters over July.

Jagger Duquette

The former Bristol Eastern standout has been an excellent arm for the Blues’ program, chucking nearly 33 innings this season over nine games.

Duquette started six of his nine appearances, giving up just five earned runs — leading to an extremely impressive 1.37 ERA.

He’s yielded just two doubles, posted a slick 27-to-8 strikeout to walk ratio, and allowed only 24 hits.

Duquette has not earned a decision over regular season play but opponents are batting less than .200 against the Blues’ pitcher.

In July, he’s walked just four batters — most of that coming over the second half of the month.

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