Red Sox Address Payton Tolle Hype: Call-Up Coming During Playoff Push?

Will he stay or will he go? Pardon “The Clash” reference, but that’s exactly what the Boston Red Sox are pondering about top pitching prospect Payton Tolle.

The left-hander has rocketed through the minors this season and now sits at Triple-A Worcester, where he continues to impress, leading to buzz the Red Sox will call up Tolle at some point during the stretch run.

“That’s not something he or we are focused on in his development,” said Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham, according to MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “What’s most important is that he stays present, works hard between outings, and remains focused on his pitching goals every time he steps on the mound.

“That said, we have no doubt that when the time comes for him to help our Major League club, he will be fully prepared,” Abraham added, per Browne.

“Good stuff,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora about Tolle, according to Browne. “There’s a few things we’re still working on [with him as an organization], but so far, so good. The stuff is real. He’s very efficient. Pounds the strike zone. I think everybody’s pleased with the progress.

“I mean, like I’ve always said, you do what you’re supposed to do, right? And he’s physical. We know that. And little by little, he keeps getting better. So we’ll see what the future holds,” Cora added.

Before Monday’s 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, WEEI’s Rob Bradford added to the hype.

“Right now, as we sit here, your fourth guy had a bad outing yesterday and you’re pitching a bullpen game, so you can’t rule out Payton Tolle being impactful at some point in September,” Bradford said on NESN’s “Red Sox Gameday Live.”

Former teammate Jhostynxon Garcia is sold on Tolle.“He’s impressive,” Garcia said, according to Browne. “Every time I’m in the outfield watching him pitch, it’s a tough time for hitters. He throws hard, with good movement. He has the talent to pitch in the big leagues.”

The 22-year-old Tolle started this season with High-A Greenville, where he went 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 11 games (10 starts). He struck out 79 batters in 49 2/3 innings pitched.

The Red Sox promoted the 2024 second-round draft pick to Double-A Portland in June. He went 1-1 with a 1.67 ERA in six games (5 starts) and struck out 37 batters in 27 innings, earning a surprising bump to Triple-A Worcester earlier this month.

Tolle has made three starts for the WooSox, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.

In his most recent start for Worcester, Brown reported Tolle hit 98 mph on the radar gun three times and topped out at 98.6 mph.

In its updated list of the top 100 prospects, as well as the top 30 prospects for each club. MLB Pipeline had Tolle No. 2 for the Red Sox, behind shortstop Franklin Arias, who ranks No. 24 overall. Tolle is No. 28 overall.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel updated list of the top prospects and concurred with MLB Pipeline, ranking Tolle second in the Boston organization behind Arias.