Earlier this week, Payton Tolle received news that he’ll make his MLB debut in grand fashion.
The Boston Red Sox officially called up Tolle on Friday to begin a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’ll make his first start against National League Cy Young Award favorite Paul Skenes at Fenway Park in the heat of a tight playoff race.
Ahead of his arrival, the Red Sox posted a heartwarming video of Tolle learning about his call-up from Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy.
“So, tomorrow, there’s a game here,” Tracy told Tolle. “Pirates vs. Red Sox. Paul Skenes vs. TBD. We were thinking of turning that TBD into Tolle. What do you think?”
An emotional Tolle covered his face before giving his skipper an emphatic thumbs-up with both hands.
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“Sounds pretty good to me,” Tolle replied.
Tracy reminded the 22-year-old of the high-stakes atmosphere he was about to encounter. That didn’t seem to bother the mustachioed left-hander.
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“You think you can handle that?” Tracy asked. “Fenway Park? You and Skenes?”
“Yeah, that sounds good to me,” Tolle declared before embracing Tracy.
Tolle has catapulted up prospect rankings during the 2025 season, jumping to No. 28 in MLB.com’s recently updated top 100. The imposing 6-foot-6, 250-pounder throws a high-90s heater that helped him accumulate 133 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings this season.
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Boston is now trusting Tolle to at least temporarily join a starting staff seeking a replacement for the released Walker Buehler and injured Richard Fitts. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow wouldn’t commit to Tolle remaining in the rotation to finish the season, but he expects the newcomer to stay in an undetermined role beyond Friday night.
Featured image via WooSox Photo/Ashley Green/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
