Ahead of its season opener, No. 1 Texas softball lost a key piece of its roster. Junior shortstop Viviana “Vivi” Martinez will be sitting out from a knee injury and miss the entirety of the 2025 season.
The D1 Softball All-American Second Team pick suffered a noncontact injury last October during the offseason. As a result, Martinez will redshirt her junior season.
“While we will, undoubtedly, miss Vivi’s physical skills on the field of play, her presence in the dugout, at practice and within the team will still play an important role in the success of this team,” head coach Mike White said in a statement. “Her leadership, calm demeanor and passion for the game manifests her maturity as a person and athlete.”
The Tolleson, Arizona, local was a stable force for the Longhorns in their national runner-up campaign last season. Martinez ended the season with 52 RBI, 18 doubles, three triples and five home runs. Her absence will leave a hole in the Texas offense.
To fill the role at shortstop, White may opt for sophomore infielder and catcher Katie Stewart or junior utility Leighann Goode.
“This, without a doubt, will be one of the hardest softball seasons for me,” Martinez said in a statement posted to Instagram and X. “Being out of that field alongside my teammates while representing this team and university is one of the biggest joys, but I know God has a plan for me. While I spend these upcoming months rehabbing, I want y’all to join me in being this team’s biggest supporter. We have big goals for this season and those are not going to change.”
Martinez has 122 career starts and has totaled a career 104 RBI. She was a unanimous All-Big 12 Freshman Team selection in 2023 and earned an All-Big 12 Second Team honor last season.
After falling to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Women’s College World Series final last season, the Longhorns have come into the season as the top-ranked team in both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today Softball Top 25.
Martinez will travel with the team to Lafayette, Louisiana, but will be forced to watch Texas from the dugout as it opens up its season against Longwood and Louisiana on Friday.
