Red Sox Dominate Updated LHP Prospect Rankings
Boston boasts a pair of electrifying southpaws
A new year means new prospect rankings, and MLB Pipeline has begun publishing its updated prospect rankings for 2026.
MLB Pipeline recently named the best left-handed pitchers, which is a great list for the Boston Red Sox. Two Red Sox lefties are listed in the top 10, with Payton Tolle at No. 2 and Connelly Early at No. 8.
Both debuted last year and are expected to play key roles for Boston’s pitching staff this season. The Red Sox have a crowded rotation, however, so it’s unclear whether they’ll start, relieve, or do a bit of both.
A second-round draft pick in 2024, Tolle tore through Boston’s system last year, reaching the Major Leagues in late August and pitching in the playoffs. The tall 23-year-old lefty struggled in his first taste of the big leagues with a 6.06 ERA, however, so he may need a bit more seasoning before he’s fully ready.
That said, Tolle’s potential and stuff are off the charts. His heater got the most votes for best fastball in MLB Pipeline’s recent executives survey. According to MLB Pipeline, Tolle’s fastball “averaged just under 96 mph and touched 101 last year across all levels while producing a 39 percent miss rate thanks to elite extension and low release height.”
Early is in a similar boat to Tolle. He’s also a 23-year-old southpaw who debuted last season and appeared in the postseason, although he pitched well with a 2.33 ERA and a 29:4 K/BB ratio in four starts. Accordingly, he might be ready to open the season with the Red Sox.
Whereas Tolle’s fastball is his standout pitch, Early’s changeup drew praise from MLB Pipeline.
“Early’s low-80s changeup plays well off his fastball because it has similar action and he gets plenty of swings-and-misses with it (33 percent miss rate across all levels last year) while also getting a ton of ground-ball contact (56 percent ground-ball rate) with it,” MLB Pipeline wrote.
With both southpaws expected to make an impact for Boston this year, they could give the Red Sox a major boost if they live up to their potential.
