Taryn Kern

Taryn Kern is a 5-foot-7 professional softball infielder from San Jose, California. She was acquired by the Chicago Bandits with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 AUSL College Draft following a collegiate career at Indiana and Stanford.

Personal Life

Family: Daughter of Chris and Tilena Kern. One of three children in her family. Her father played baseball at Gonzaga.

Background: Has a dog named Mojo. Lists Stanford head softball coach Jessica Allister and associate head softball coach Jessica Merchant as people who have made a difference in her life. One of her softball idols is Sis Bates. Played soccer as a child growing up in addition to playing the piano and participating in Girl Scouts. Became starstruck when she received her AUSL Golden Ticket from Amanda Scarborough. Most prized possession is her journal. Proudest accomplishments are her home run records at Indiana and Stanford.

Hobbies: Enjoys hot yoga, spending time in nature, finding new restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with friends.

Professional Experience

Athletes Unlimited Softball League (2026)

2026 AUSL Regular Season: Selected by the Chicago Bandits with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 AUSL College Draft.

International Experience (2024)

Team USA: Competed for Team USA during the 2024 Japan All-Star Series.

College Experience: Indiana & Stanford (2023–2026)

Career Statistics: Three-year letter winner at Stanford after starting her college career at Indiana. Earned a starting assignment in all 238 career games. Compiled a .351 career average with 67 home runs and 192 RBIs. Accumulated 227 career hits, including 49 doubles and 12 triples. Third in Stanford history with 44 career home runs and ranks second on the Cardinal’s career list with 137 walks.

Senior Year (2026, Stanford): Starter in all 54 games who ranked on the team with a .385 average. Led Stanford with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs. Posted a school-record .897 slugging percentage and scored 66 runs, the second-highest single-season total in school history.

Junior Year (2025, Stanford): Started all 55 games at second base. Tied the Stanford single-season record with 19 home runs while adding 43 RBIs. Paced the Cardinal with 63 runs scored and 127 total bases. Logged a team-high 1.283 OPS while hitting .348. Opened the season with a 10-game hitting streak.

Sophomore Year (2024, Stanford): Started all 67 games at second base. Paced Stanford in slugging percentage (.509) and on-base percentage (.504) while setting program single-season marks with 58 walks and 22 times being hit by a pitch. Scored a team-high 44 runs while contributing nine doubles, four triples, seven home runs, and 32 RBIs.

Freshman Year (2023, Indiana): Set Indiana single-season standards with 23 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 68 runs scored. Matched the Big Ten freshman home run mark. Paced the Hoosiers in batting average (.404), on-base percentage (.578), and slugging percentage (.942).

Awards & Honors

All-America: Second-Team NFCA All-America selection in 2023.

All-Region: Four-time NFCA All-Region performer, earning First-Team commendations as a freshman and senior.

Conference Honors: Four-time All-Conference performer who earned First-Team status as a freshman and senior. First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (2026), Third-Team All-ACC (2025), and Second-Team All-Pac-12 Conference (2024). Honored as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2023.

National Honors: Named a Top-3 Finalist for the NFCA Freshman of the Year award in 2023.