Karlyn Pickens gives injury update for Tennessee softball vs Florida
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens, the hardest throwing pitcher in softball history, says her arm is strong and healthy after returning from an injury.
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens , the hardest throwing pitcher in softball history, says her arm is strong and healthy after returning from an injury. She’s ready to move forward with the Lady Vols’ near-perfect season, and so is coach Karen Weekly. “She pitched on Sunday (in a win over Mississippi State), so that tells the story.
We just had to wait until it felt good enough for her to go,” Weekly said on March 18. “She got to 100 percent, throwing different pitches with no pain. If she feels any discomfort, she’s going to let us know.
Hopefully we’re past it and 100 percent moving on. ” Pickens, the reigning two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, suffered an arm strain in a game against Belmont on March 3. She grabbed her right shoulder after throwing a pitch, immediately called for a timeout and exited the game.
Aside from Pickens’ dominance, the injury was notable because she set the record for the fastest softball pitch ever recorded twice, her fastest a 79. 4 mph pitch during the 2025 NCAA super regionals. Pickens (7-0) tossed a complete game one-hitter in a 4-1 win over Mississippi State on March 15 to clinch a road series.