Indiana Softball All-American Taryn Kern Addresses Decision to Enter Transfer Portal

Indiana softball second baseman and All-American Taryn Kern entered the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2023 season. The Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year addressed her decision to transfer via her Twitter account.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Monday, June 5, Extra Inning Softball reported Indiana softball's All-American second baseman Taryn Kern decided to enter the transfer portal after an illustrious Hoosiers season.

The San Jose, Calif. native earned D1Softball.com First-Team and Freshman-Team All-American status after leading Hoosier starters with a .404 batting average. She won Big Ten Freshman and Player of the Year and led the conference in eight statistical categories including slugging percentage (.930), on base percentage (0.575), OPS (1.505), walks (45), hit by pitch (23), runs scored (68), RBI (68) and home runs (23).

Taryn Kern / @IndianaSB on Twitter

Four days after the news broke, Kern took to her Twitter account @tarynkern2022 to officially bid farewell to her one-season Hoosier home.

"Year 1. I am beyond grateful for the memories, opportunity, love, but most of all growth that you have blessed me with. It was an honor to wear Indiana across my chest and compete in the B1G. 

"I will forever be thankful for the incredible people I have met, and all the challenges and obstacles thrown my way. To all the amazing people I have met and who have impacted me, I thank you and wish you nothing but the best.

"That being said, I am nothing but excited for my future at my new home. As difficult as it was, I know I have to make the best choice for myself to move onto the next chapter of my life, and continue to grow.

"Hoosier Nation, thank you. love, TK9."

The Hoosiers finished with a 44-18 overall record and 18-5 conference slate under six-year head coach Shonda Stanton in the 2023 season. Indiana advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 2011 in which it fell to Tennessee in the regional finals.

Stanton in a previous interview said Kern was among the best players she's ever coached during her time as a Hoosier and in her 18-season career at Marshall. Kern has not yet revealed where she will be headed for the 2024 season, but her home-run energy at such a young age will be missed by Hoosier Nation.

Related stories on Indiana softball

• KERN ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL Monday, Extra Inning Softball reported Indiana softball's Taryn Kern entered the transfer portal. The All-American has not yet commented on her decision. CLICK HERE
• THREE HOOSIERS EARN ALL-AMERICAN NODS Indiana softball freshman Taryn Kern and sophomores Brianna Copeland and Taylor Minnick each earned All-American honors from the NFCA as the most single-season All-Americans in Hoosier program history. CLICK HERE
• KERN NAMED D1SOFTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICAN Indiana softball's freshman third baseman Taryn Kern was named the program's first All-American since 1998 for D1Softball.com. CLICK HERE