Florida State softball has had a turbulent month, failing to advance to the Super Regionals for the first time since the 2022 season. The Seminoles saw two of their best players, Jaysoni Beachum and Isa Torres, enter the transfer portal. A question of whether Florida State softball continues to compete at the highest level became very real to FSU fans.
Those answers came pretty quickly, as Florida State retained ACC Pitcher of the Year, Jazzy Francik, and All-American Ashtyn Danley. FSU added a major addition from the transfer portal this week in Stetson’s Nicle Edmiaston. Florida State still has more work to do in the transfer portal.
However, another part of the equation is the freshman class Lonni Alameda has coming to Tallahassee. It’s a great class overall, but the crown jewel is five-star signee McLaine Hudson, who flipped from Kentucky a few months ago. It’s almost like the writing was on the wall, with the universe foreseeing Isa Torres planning to enter the transfer portal.
Hudson, the two-time Kentucky Player of the Year, led South Warren High School to a 45-0 record and its first-ever state championship this week:
CHAMPIONSHIP teams produce CHAMPIONSHIP athletes 🏆🏆
— SouthWarren Softball (@SWSoftball) June 14, 2026
🏆 State Champions
🥎 KY Miss Softball @McLaineHudson1
⭐️ Four 1st Team All-State @McLaineHudson1 @LaylaOgden1 @courtneyn2027 @HadleyBorders
⭐️ Class 3A All-State POY @LaylaOgden1
🏆 Class 3A Coaching Staff of the Year pic.twitter.com/NoligOvsLZ
McLaine Hudson brings an advanced bat that Florida State sorely needs going into 2027
Her high school numbers in her senior year (45 games) are not of this world. She hit .770 with 28 home runs, 25 doubles, and 79 RBI. She had an .809 on-base percentage, walking 30 times and striking out only three times. She holds the Kentucky state record for runs (403), hits (435), and home runs (90).
Isa Torres developed into arguably the top softball player nationally in 2026, but her high school numbers, as good as they were, pale in comparison to Hudson’s. Torres hit .577 with 12 home runs, 14 doubles, five triples, and 41 RBI. She had a .628 on-base percentage, walking 17 times and striking out only two times
South Warren's McLaine Hudson (@McLaineHudson1) led off tonight with a solo shot, making her the first player in KHSAA history to hit the 80 career HR mark.
— Cole Scott (@ColeScottSports) April 17, 2026
She finished the night 2-2, adding a single and pair of intentional walks to her line. @News40Sports | @SWSoftball pic.twitter.com/4aZz1EgDci
Obviously, Torres has proven she can transfer her game from high school to college, and Hudson must prove she can. However, what Hudson did in high school is on a different level from a production standpoint. One can argue that high school softball in Texas and Kentucky is on different levels. However, Hudson has taken her game to the 2025 WBSC U-18 World Cup team and performed well. She hit .563 (9-for-16) with one HR, three RBI, and 10 runs scored; All-World Team selection.
I don’t want to put any more pressure on Hudson, but it’s going to be there naturally because of her five-star status and the departure of Torres. Isa Torres had a strong freshman season, batting .356, with nine home runs, 15 doubles, 57 RBI, and a .386 on-base percentage. Those numbers seem well within reach of Hudson’s potential as a freshman. Torres took a major step forward as a sophomore before ascending to the D1Softball National Player of the Year Award winner as a junior.
It would have been better to have Torres and Hudson on the team at the same time, but if you had to replace Torres (who only has one year of eligibility remaining), I’m not sure it would be possible to find a better prospect than Hudson. The 2026 high school recruiting class has some players who can make an immediate impact, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Hudson quickly win Florida State softball fans over.
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