[Mick]

Does anyone know what's going on with Taryn Kern?

Last year at Indiana, she was the Big 10 player of the year, with a .404 average, 23 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .942 slugging percentage (in 62 games).

This year, she has a .162 average, 0 home runs, 2 RBIs, and a .216 slugging percentage (in 17 games). She has only 6 hits this season. She does reach base a lot -- she has drawn 19 walks and 8 HBPs, so she has a very good on base percentage of .516. But production with the bat just hasn't been there. Is she injured, just in a slump, or what?

Could be a few factors. Sounds like she has a different mission; e.g., just get on base. Between the walks and HBPs, she's been on base 33 times -- the next closest on the team has reached base 10 times through that route. She's second on the team in both runs and on-base percentage, so it sounds like she's doing well in the leadoff spot. At the same time, she's struck out 20 times, most on the team by a margin (second most is 16). Other factor -- dangerous hitter, perhaps the other teams are being exceedingly careful around her. Or Big Ten pitching isn't as strong. Might be a slump. She's up to .224 as of this writing.

[Mick]

Does anyone know what's going on with Taryn Kern?

Last year at Indiana, she was the Big 10 player of the year, with a .404 average, 23 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .942 slugging percentage (in 62 games).

This year, she has a .162 average, 0 home runs, 2 RBIs, and a .216 slugging percentage (in 17 games). She has only 6 hits this season. She does reach base a lot -- she has drawn 19 walks and 8 HBPs, so she has a very good on base percentage of .516. But production with the bat just hasn't been there. Is she injured, just in a slump, or what?

Could be a few factors. Sounds like she has a different mission; e.g., just get on base. Between the walks and HBPs, she's been on base 33 times -- the next closest on the team has reached base 10 times through that route. She's second on the team in both runs and on-base percentage, so it sounds like she's doing well in the leadoff spot. At the same time, she's struck out 20 times, most on the team by a margin (second most is 16). Other factor -- dangerous hitter, perhaps the other teams are being exceedingly careful around her. Or Big Ten pitching isn't as strong. Might be a slump. She's up to .224 as of this writing.