by Four of the Red Sox’s best prospects have been brought up this season, and a fifth is putting in a compelling case to join the main leagues before the 2025 season concludes.
Payton Tolle’s most recent appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Friday was impressive. In Worcester’s 9-3 loss to Jacksonville, the left-hander pitched five innings and gave up just one run on one hit, zero walks, and nine strikeouts.
Four of the nine strikeouts resulted from whiffs. According to Baseball Savant, Tolle’s fastball topped out at 98.6 mph and he also drew four whiffs. He also made whiffs with his curveball and slider.
After having a rough Triple-A debut earlier in August, Tolle had two consecutive excellent outings on the mound on Friday. Last Saturday, the 22-year-old pitched five innings against Iowa and gave up three hits, one walk, and five strikeouts without giving up a run.
In addition, Tolle’s performance on Friday coincides with certain rotational alterations for the Red Sox. Due to his ongoing struggles, Walker Buehler is being transferred to the bullpen.
Tolle appears unlikely to take Buehler’s place in the rotation for his next scheduled start, though the Red Sox haven’t announced who will do so yet. It was too soon for Buehler, who was supposed to start next on Monday against the Orioles. Richard Fitts and Kyle Harrison have been mentioned as potential contenders to make that start.
The Triple-A@WooSox’s most recent appearance by Payton Tolle:For the sixth time this season, fans gave it a 9+.raises K/9 to 13.1 (the Minors’ fifth-best).permits one hit and no walks.In his last 14 innings, the @RedSoxNo. 2 prospect has given up just one run.https://pic.twitter.com/hGCB3W36 Ec
Craig Breslow, the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer, isn’t discounting the chance that Tolle will join the major league team in September, though.
You begin to consider the variables that are introduced by altering the surroundings, the crowd, the stadium, and Breslowtold when a person possesses these distinctive qualities and what we believe should be weapons that will translate into the big leagues.Alex Speier of the Boston Globes. According to reports, he is a young man who somewhat ups his game. We don’t expect the stage to be too large for him. Therefore, we wouldn’t think twice about giving it a try if we believe he is ready.
After being chosen in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Tolle has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Red Sox farm system this season. He started the season with a 3.62 ERA in 11 appearances at High-A Greenville, going 1-3. With Double-A Portland, he was more effective, recording a 1.67 ERA, 0.741 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 27 innings across six appearances.
Tolle has a 3.04 ERA, 0.993 WHIP, and 133 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings across 20 appearances across all three levels. Additionally, his batting average is.193.
Following the call-ups of Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, and Roman Anthony, Tolle’s outstanding numbers have contributed to his status as perhaps the Red Sox’s finest prospect. According to MLB Pipeline, he is the team’s second-best prospect in the farm system and the 28th-best prospect overall. Additionally, Tolleas was recently listed as the 41st-best baseball prospect by Baseball America.
Tolle is being compared to another pitcher who rose through Boston’s farm system before becoming a major league star, and he may be the best Red Sox pitching prospect in years.
I find it difficult to say this. However, Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson told Speier, “I think this guy is a big leaguer, dominant, and can’t miss,” much like Jonny Lester. He is a rat. All he wants is information. This is what he wants to be around. And with the talent and those intangibles, I think this man is going to be something truly unique.
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