Part 2/8:
Jones has just wrapped up his first major league season, and the statistics tell a mixed but promising story. With a 4.14 ERA and an equally respectable 4.01 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), he performed around league average, which is noteworthy for a rookie pitcher. Initially, Jones excelled, posting a 5.36 ERA in the first half of the season but struggled with a surge in ERA to over 5 during the latter half. This decline was attributed to two major factors: his return from an injury that affected his velocity and the typical rookie regression that often occurs as players adjust to facing elite hitters over a longer season.