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Red Sox analyst: Top pitching prospect Payton Tolle could have ‘impactful’ role down the stretch
"He might be that guy."
Another possible role for a touted Red Sox prospect: With top Red Sox prospects like Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Jhostynxon Garcia getting their Major League debuts in 2025, it’s possible that yet another highly-regarded youngster could play a role down the stretch in September.
Payton Tolle, selected in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, has been promoted multiple times this season. Starting his year at High-A Greenville, the 22-year-old left-hander has made his way up to Triple-A Worcester.
In his last two starts for the WooSox, Tolle has allowed just one run in 10 innings, notching 14 strikeouts.
Could he earn a further promotion: This time to Boston?
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During a Monday discussion on “Red Sox Gameday Live,” show host Tom Caron mentioned Tolle as a possible solution to the current struggles of the back end of Boston’s rotation.
WEEI’s Rob Bradford theorized he could also play a role in the bullpen.
“I’m going to find it fascinating how long they keep him as a starter,” Bradford explained, citing the 2008 example of David Price’s role with the Rays (when the young left-hander was moved to the bullpen to help solidify Tampa’s staff heading into the postseason).
“He might be that guy,” Bradford explained of Tolle as a high-powered reliever, “but ultimately you don’t know. We might think he’s best option to fill one of these gaps.”
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That said, Bradford acknowledged Caron’s point that Tolle might provide a greater service to the team as a starter.
“Right now, as we sit here, your fourth guy had a bad outing [Saturday] and you’re pitching a bullpen game, so you can’t rule out Payton Tolle being impactful at some point in September,” he said.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently noted that the Tolle isn’t being ruled out as a potential call-up.
“When there is a guy with these unique traits and what we think should be weapons that will translate into the big leagues, then you start to look at the variables that are introduced by changing the environment, the crowd, the stadium,” Breslow said recently to The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier. “By all accounts, he is a kid that kind of elevates his game. We don’t anticipate that the stage is too big for him. So, if we think he’s ready, we wouldn’t hesitate to give it a shot.”
Boston remains in the midst of a playoff race, leading the Yankees in the wild-card standings by half a game.
Scores and schedules:
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The Red Sox defeated the Orioles 4-3 on Monday, with Roman Anthony becoming the youngest player in team history to hit a lead-off home run.
The two teams play again this evening at Camden Yards, with the first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
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- Patriots 53-man roster projection 3.0: Who will make the cut just ahead of cutdown day?
- Patriots roster cuts live tracker: Who will make the final 53-man roster in New England?
- Roman Anthony sets another Red Sox record with leadoff home run against Orioles
- 6 takeaways from Patriots’ final training camp practice
- Drake Maye talks Efton Chism, prepping for Week 1 start in WEEI interview
- ESPN maps out Patriots trade where Lions get their ‘revenge’ after prior fleecing
- Paul Pierce and Julian Edelman discussed what makes Boston the ‘best sports city in all of America’
- Mike Vrabel discussed ‘rat’ comments, Stefon Diggs’ preseason playing time, and Morgan Wallen cameo
Boston College with a nice goal: The Eagles scored to take the lead via Russell Brown’s first-time strike, but fell 3-1 in the end to Sienna. Somehow this wasn’t the best local collegiate goal from Monday (see below), but certainly still highlight-worthy.
On this day: In 2002, the Red Sox defeated the Angels 10-9 in a wild one, scoring four times in the ninth inning before a Johnny Damon solo home run in the 10th won it. Manny Ramirez went 5-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Daily highlight: Lukian Lawro scored a world-class bicycle-kick goal for the University of New Haven in a 1-0 win over Providence on Monday.
One more (spectacular) look:
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