Part 8/11:
Post-30, Hernandez’s statistics took a disheartening turn. In four seasons, his ERA plummeted to 4.89, and he struggled to maintain his previous elite performance. This decline is closely related to a notable drop in velocity; for instance, while he averaged around 96 mph during his prime, by 2016, his fastball velocity fell significantly, impacting his efficacy on the mound. The natural wear and tear from consistently logging over 200 innings per season during his early career may have contributed to this decline.