Another softball adios - Lauren Esman hits the exits
Another transfer out of the Michigan softball program, and this one doesn't seem to make much sense. Michigan native, high school all American, state of Michigan Miss Softball and starting first baseman Lauren Esman is headed to Alabama. Her sister will be a freshman on the MSU softball team next year.
I get Storako and Carson grad transferring and Widra headed home. This one makes me wonder if there aren't some underlying issues in the program. We're going to need some freshman and the new transfers in to step up big next year to be competitive outside of the Big Ten.
I don't like when the kids transfer out of the "other" sports from the Big 10...uh 14....I mean 16.
Was interested to see a parent of another transfer comment on a twitter thread "Lauren is a stud. To bad some people didn’t realize that. Go kill it kid!!" with a like from Alex Storako... Now it appears she wants to pitch, but how is that on Michigan when they've had Beaubien and Storako there, and gave her 230 ABs to prove herself as a position player? Definitely an intriguing loss like you said from a Michigan kid as she becomes the third girl in the class of 2019 to transfer along with the two non grad transfers from the class of 2018 and already Annabelle from 2021. I know transferring is a trend all across sports and softball is no different, but losing 5/11 girls from back to back classes in 18 and 19 is unsettling.
Widra is a huge loss that I hadn't seen before; don't think it was posted on this board. Outstanding two-way player with a ton of potential.
Widra showed promise as a pitcher, but outstanding two-way player ? She batted only .255 with very few extra base hits.
Wow, downvoted for providing batting info ?
I didn't downvote you, but more context is necessary. Early in the season, Widra was one of the big bats in the lineup. And that was against better competition. Then she didn't play for quite a while. When she came back, she was pitching more, and pitching fairly effectively. But her hitting dropped off of a cliff.
We'll never know the reasons for all of this. It's a lot to process and Hutch will never say a word in public. But losing her might be worse than losing Storako's final year of eligibility - and that's quite a loss as well. If someone wants to make a case against Hutch, it starts with Widra.
I think Hutch recruits as well as anyone could given the spring weather in the Midwest, and this COVID/one year of graduate school thing is unique and everyone wins/loses. But Widra was a big get for the program and something happened.
Damn. The softball program appears to be...cratering.
I wonder if the rumors of Hutch's retirement have anything to do with this.
I wonder if she has ever experienced 100F and 100% humidity..... It 'isn't nice!
Esman batted .263 this past season (118 AB), and .304 the prior season (92 AB). Not many extra base hits. Is Alabama looking at her as a pitcher ? Will be interesting to see what she does there. She has not pitched any inningsl at Michigan, so this seems a bit odd.
I'm guessing they're giving her a shot at pitcher, as they also lost Lexi Kilfoyl to transfer. Esman is 6-0 in the Florida Gulf Coast League with 34k's in 24.2 innings and a 1.70 ERA, according to the Twitters. Reading between the lines, she probably wasn't thrilled with two true freshman getting pitching innings ahead of her this year and being, at best, 5th on the depth chart. Three of the girls that were in front of her are gone now, but it doesn't sound like the staff had much confidence in her.
I don't know why this is surprising. What Michigan is lacking is the NIL deals and they will continue to fall behind if they don't get their shit together.
Why in gods green earth can we not offer more than other universities with all of our abilities? PLEASE TELL ME!
We are what we are and we can offer top 3-5 national, yet we don't. We have this stick in our ass saying we are michigan. yep, we are michigan. Becoming 2nd class with everything related to sports. I HATE IT!
I only regret that I have but one down vote to give.
If Esman wants to pitch and UM doesn't see her as a pitcher, it makes sense. This is not the first time this has happened. I am thinking of Stacy Delaney who went to Missouri in the mid 2000s.
if Harbaugh wouldn't have interviewed with the Vikings.... this shit wouldn't be happening!
They will need the freshman and transfers to step up to be competitive IN the Big Ten, not just outside the conference. The hitting will be weak again this year, and the pitching will likely be well below standards.
Actually Esman went in the portal quite a while ago but didn't land anywhere until a day or two ago.
Did anyone in the thread say she just went into the portal? Not sure what we're "actually"ing about, the OP said she's going to Bama, etc. The reason I knew she was because she listed "TBD" on where she goes to college on her Florida Gulf Coast roster spot, but nobody else here posted about her being in the portal and the only mention of it before yesterday on social media was on June 16th from an account called "College softball transfer portal" where they listed her name. Unless someone follows that account they would not have known since the portal isn't public information.
I certainly understand why she's transferring. She regressed a bit at the plate this season when she got first crack at replacing Lou Allan. Very typical (for Hutch) one career appearance on the mound as a freshman, with walks. No question she's someone who could thrive with a new approach/look and she has one year left plus a COVID option. I think the SEC will be a challenge, but maybe that's just what she needs - hope it works out for her.
Meanwhile, the transfer portal also gives. There's an all-ACC outfielder from Boston College who might hit leadoff and will attend grad school here during her COVID year. I would be surprised if she doesn't start.
And two pitchers. One a graduate student from North Carolina and the other an all-MAC second-team selection from Kent State who has two years of eligibility. Neither is anywhere near Storako's level, but they both have a lot of collegiate experience and should help considerably with depth.
Pitching is obviously a concern, since they don't seem to have an ace ready for next spring. But they do have plenty of arms on the roster and someone could step forward. Lots of potential top bats in the incoming freshman crop.