Florida State softball fans continue to discuss the departure of Isa Torres from Florida State to Texas. Was it because she wanted to go back home? Did they offer more money? Did she believe she couldn't compete for a national title at FSU? Her father spoke about why they decided to transfer from Florida State to Texas. He cited “winning culture” and “standards”, along with wanting to go back home.
Florida State tried to keep her by matching or getting close to what Texas offered, so money wasn’t the top priority. It seems to boil down to going home and going to a place she believed she could compete for a national title. However, according to Florida State baseball Hall of Famer Doug Mientkiewicz, Isa Torres fell well short of expectations when it mattered most and didn’t have what it takes to lead Florida State:
If you are the player of the year you should make a difference when it matters most, unfortunately that hasn’t happened. Wish her the best. Her father basically said she’s a complimentary piece and she wants to follow not lead.
— Doug Mientkiewicz (@DMEASrecruiting) June 20, 2026
Isa Torres struggled in the moments that FSU needed her most
Florida State played a soft non-conference schedule in 2026, which is one reason that prevented them from a top-8 national seed. The Seminoles also didn’t have to play two of the better teams in the ACC during the regular season. That’s not to take away from what Isa Torres did in 2026 as the D1Softball Player of the Year. However, the majority of her production came against teams outside of the top 25.
It was a different story when Florida State played the top teams, or FSU had its back against the wall:
- Texas Tech: 0-3
- UCLA: 3-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR, 1 strikeout
- Tennessee: 2-3, RBI, SB
- Alabama: 0-3, 2 strikeouts
- Stanford: 0-2, run, 2 walks
- Stanford: 1-4, RBI, HR
- Stanford: 1-5, run, 3 RBI, 1 caught stealing
- Florida: 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR
- Florida: 0-3, run, RBI
- Stanford(ACC Tourney): 2-2, 3 runs, walk
- Virginia Tech (ACC Tourney): 0-2, walk, strikeout
- Stetson (Tally Regional): 1-4, double
- Jacksonville St. (Tally Regional): 3-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, double, triple, walk, SB
- Stetson (Tally Regional): 3-5, 2 runs, double
- UCF (Tally Regional): 0-3
- UCF (Tally Regional): 1-4 RBI, error
That’s 19-52 for a .365 batting average, which isn’t terrible by any means, but it’s significantly lower than the .530 batting average she had for the season. Also, the 1-7 with an RBI and a costly error against UCF when Florida State was playing for its season is precisely what Doug Mientkiewicz is talking about, not to mention UCF’s pitching staff wasn’t considered elite by any means.
Torres went 1-5 in two Super Regional games against Oklahoma in 2024 and went 0-6 against Texas Tech in Super Regionals in 2025 to see Florida State’s season end. I think it’s safe to say there’s some truth to the narrative that she was not a difference-maker when it mattered most.
There is some truth to what Mientkiewicz said about her willingness to be a complimentary piece at Texas instead of a leader at Florida State. It may sound like sour grapes from Florida State fans, but there's no denying the stats. Torres went 2-18 (.111) in her last three NCAA Tournament games.
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