All-American home run hitter enters college softball transfer portal

A really big bat just hit the open market in college softball.

Jasmyn Burns, a sophomore catcher at Ohio State who ranks fourth nationally in home runs with 25 on the season, entered the transfer portal on Thursday as the Women’s College World Series got underway. Burns’ number of dingers this season set a single-season program record for Ohio State.

The 5-foot-3 right-handed hitter has been one of the best hitters in the sport this season. Burns is eighth in Division I in batting average with a .455 mark, 14th in RBI (72), fifth in slugging percentage (1.006), fifth in total bases (166), and seventh in OPS (1.546).

In addition to being named one of the 25 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, Burns was named as an All-American by Softball America (Second Team) and the NFCA (First Team). She was also one of the five unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selections.

Burns led the Buckeyes in hits, batting average, home runs, OPS, doubles and total bases, leading an offense that won 45 games and ranked in the top 20 in the nation in total runs and batting average.

A native of Menifee, California, Burns also had offers from Oregon and UCLA out of high school. Both teams are playing in the World Series this weekend in Oklahoma City, while the Buckeyes are still searching for their first Super Regional appearance since 2009. Ohio State was eliminated in the regional stage of the NCAA Tournament this season with two losses to Tennessee.

Replacing the bat of Burns will be no easy task for Ohio State skipper Kirin Kumar as she heads into her second season coaching the Buckeyes.

With NCAA hits leader Sophia Knight committing to Tennessee, Burns is easily the best hitter available in the portal.