Payton Tolle Promoted To Triple-A Worcester

[Nick John]

The Boston Red Sox stayed busy Sunday afternoon after sweeping the Houston Astros as they promoted their top pitching prospect Payton Tolle to Triple-A Worcester per Beyond The Monster’s Andrew Parker.

Tolle is Boston’s top pitching prospect and has pitched for both Greenville and Portland. Now he will face the highest level of minor league baseball with the possibility of being added to Boston’s roster at some point in September.

In six games since his promotion to Portland, Tolle made five starts and pitched out of the pen in a piggyback role once. He tossed 27 innings and had a 1.67 ERA to go along with 37 strikeouts to just seven walks

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Tolle throws four pitches: a fastball, cutter, slider and changeup. He is also currently ranked 49th on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list.

Do you think it’s too early for Tolle to be promoted? Should he have just been promoted alongside fellow pitchers David Sandlin and Connelly Early last week? Could he make it to Boston before the end of the year? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments.

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[moonslav59]

Good news!

[Nick]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Good news!

Heck yes!

[cp176]

Along with Mickey Romero unless I misread something.  Tolle is a beast and Cora has liked Romero since the first day he saw him.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's possible Early gets some spot starts in September, with Sandlin used in multi-roles of starting and relieving.

Payton's place is in the bullpen for the fall.

His rise could be similar to Calvin Schiraldi in 1986. Schiraldi was a starter in the minors before Boston acquired him for that season and converted him to closer. He was called up for the stretch run and made an immediate impact -- most on the positive side (despite what he's remembered for, at the end of the World Series).

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It's possible Early gets some spot starts in September, with Sandlin used in multi-roles of starting and relieving.

 

Sandlin is Rule 5 and will be added in DEC, so I can see adding him earlier to get a look-see, but I think we have a few others ahead of him:

Criswell has to get at least one more start. (May is here, now.)

Harrison seems to be ready for a look.

Burdi & Kelly are off the IL and did not do too badly, when healthy.

Fitts & ICampbell are on the 40, now. Neither one clearly deserves another 2026 look, so maybe Sandlin could pass them on the depth chart. (Early, too.)

I think there would have to be a 60 Day IL injury for either to be added to the 40, and Early is not Rule 5, so we will not add him and cause a roster crunch in DEC,

[Nick]

A side note, mlb.com has Mariners ahead of Sox in their weekly ranking. What the hell? We are two games up on the Mariners. Ugh.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Fitts & ICampbell are on the 40, now. Neither one clearly deserves another 2026 look, so maybe Sandlin could pass them on the depth chart. (Early, too.)

I think there would have to be a 60 Day IL injury for either to be added to the 40, and Early is not Rule 5, so we will not add him and cause a roster crunch in DEC,

Breslow is already talking up Sandlin. Why can't these fresh arms replace some of those that will be burnt out when rosters expand in September (or is that now-limited number not enough room)? 

I'm not talking high-leverage guys like Chapman, Whitlock, Weissert, Wilson -- or maybe Matz -- but all the interchangeables. Can Slaten return and not get sore again?

[Nick]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Good news!

A whip of 0.74 plus 37K/7BB is very impressive.  A major leaguer has to throw strikes. Period.

I hate guys that come out and walk the first batter. No no no no....learn to throw strikes.

[Nick]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Breslow is already talking up Sandlin. Why can't these fresh arms replace some of those that will be burnt out when rosters expand in September (or is that now-limited number not enough room)? 

I'm not talking high-leverage guys like Chapman, Whitlock, Weissert, Wilson -- or maybe Matz -- but all the interchangeables. Can Slaten return and not get sore again?

When our guys get hurt, they seem to have trouble getting healthy. Who knew Slaten would be out this long?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, Nick said:

A side note, mlb.com has Mariners ahead of Sox in their weekly ranking. What the hell? We are two games up on the Mariners. Ugh.

Seattle is so sexy. The M's have the Big Dumper and a solid rotation, and also have JRod -- who everybody loves with the same amount of homers as Abreu! They also just bulked up their offense by trading for two guys who anchored the batting order of a team below .500.

[Bellhorn04]

12 minutes ago, Nick said:

A side note, mlb.com has Mariners ahead of Sox in their weekly ranking. What the hell? We are two games up on the Mariners. Ugh.

Just add their rankings to the list of things you don't need in your life.

[Bellhorn04]

10 minutes ago, Nick said:

When our guys get hurt, they seem to have trouble getting healthy. Who knew Slaten would be out this long?

It's not just us when it comes to that, though.  

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Breslow is already talking up Sandlin. Why can't these fresh arms replace some of those that will be burnt out when rosters expand in September (or is that now-limited number not enough room)? 

I'm not talking high-leverage guys like Chapman, Whitlock, Weissert, Wilson -- or maybe Matz -- but all the interchangeables. Can Slaten return and not get sore again?

I got my head ripped off by two posters for just suggesting we not DFA Alcala and keep Murphy on the 26.

I can see a lot of merit in not adding non Rule 5 players, but adding Sandlin seems like a good idea.

[Nick]

Giolito is only 30 at year end. That 140 innings is going to be close. He only needs 44 1/3 innings. He'll get at least 9 more starts, maybe 10.

I want to see him back.

[mvp 78]

23 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Breslow is already talking up Sandlin. Why can't these fresh arms replace some of those that will be burnt out when rosters expand in September (or is that now-limited number not enough room)? 

I'm not talking high-leverage guys like Chapman, Whitlock, Weissert, Wilson -- or maybe Matz -- but all the interchangeables. Can Slaten return and not get sore again?

One or two of them probably will be in the pen for a few weeks. Tolle is already seeing a reduced pitch count in his starts and could be primed for a bullpen spot in Sept. 

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

One or two of them probably will be in the pen for a few weeks. Tolle is already seeing a reduced pitch count in his starts and could be primed for a bullpen spot in Sept. 

Is he on 40 man?

[mvp 78]

27 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Is he on 40 man?

Not yet. 

[TedYazPapiMookie]

He pitched today and got his butt kicked 5 innings, 5 earned runs, 6 total runs, 7 hits, 1 walk, 3 Ks and 2 HRs given up.  Maybe he's not ready for WOR!  Let's hope he doesn't get discouraged by the pummeling and his next start helps him win back some confidence.  Rushing players in August in hopes they will be ready by October to help in the playoffs is a double-edged sword.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

FYI .... here are the AAA stats for the big 3 prospects (one of which is not on the MLB roster so he could go learn 1B)

Anthony 58 games, 212 at bats, 61 hits (.288), 9 dbs, 2 triples, 10 HRs, 45 runs, 29 Rbis, 51 BBs, 56 Ks, 3 SBs and 3 CSs, OBP .423, SLG .491 and OPS .914

Mayer 43 games, 179 at bats, 46 hits (.271), 5 dbs, 1 triple, 9 HRs, 31 runs, 43 Rbis, 20 BBs, 38Ks, 2 SBs 0 CSs, OBP .347, SLG .471 and OPS .818

Campbell 39 games, 138 at bats, 37 hits (.268), 5 dbs, 1 triple, 5 HRs, 26 runs, 25 Rbis, 25 BBs, 45 Ks, 2 SBs 0 CSs, OBP .402, SLG .428 and OPS .830

As Campbell approaches Mayer's game total of 43 games he's got a higher OPS and OBP, a lower SLG, more walks and more Ks but the numbers are very close yet he's in the minors while Mayer sits on the IL in the majors which makes it four seasons in a row with injuries for the injury prone Mayer.   

It can't be fun for Campbell to be Cora's latest red-headed stepchild. 

FYI... clearly Roman has done well at the MLB level so far but is there really a big difference between Mayer and Campbell that dictates he doesn't get to be part of the 2025 success?  Why tread Campbell like crap after the organization invested in him?  Hamilton hitting .174 on the MLB roster and no Campbell?  That's insulting.  Good thing he's already signed long-term!!

He should be enjoying being part of the 2025 run before it ends.  The atmosphere of the clubhouse in August in completely different from the atmosphere in June when the team was .500.  As a player secured for the long-term he deserves to be on the MLB roster not Hamilton.

 

[mvp 78]

8 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

He pitched today and got his butt kicked 5 innings, 5 earned runs, 6 total runs, 7 hits, 1 walk, 3 Ks and 2 HRs given up.  Maybe he's not ready for WOR!  Let's hope he doesn't get discouraged by the pummeling and his next start helps him win back some confidence.  Rushing players in August in hopes they will be ready by October to help in the playoffs is a double-edged sword.

Got hurt by bad defense. Guess you didn't watch? 

[mvp 78]

7 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

FYI .... here are the AAA stats for the big 3 prospects (one of which is not on the MLB roster so he could go learn 1B)

Anthony 58 games, 212 at bats, 61 hits (.288), 9 dbs, 2 triples, 10 HRs, 45 runs, 29 Rbis, 51 BBs, 56 Ks, 3 SBs and 3 CSs, OBP .423, SLG .491 and OPS .914

Mayer 43 games, 179 at bats, 46 hits (.271), 5 dbs, 1 triple, 9 HRs, 31 runs, 43 Rbis, 20 BBs, 38Ks, 2 SBs 0 CSs, OBP .347, SLG .471 and OPS .818

Campbell 39 games, 138 at bats, 37 hits (.268), 5 dbs, 1 triple, 5 HRs, 26 runs, 25 Rbis, 25 BBs, 45 Ks, 2 SBs 0 CSs, OBP .402, SLG .428 and OPS .830

As Campbell approaches Mayer's game total of 43 games he's got a higher OPS and OBP, a lower SLG, more walks and more Ks but the numbers are very close yet he's in the minors while Mayer sits on the IL in the majors which makes it four seasons in a row with injuries for the injury prone Mayer.   

It can't be fun for Campbell to be Cora's latest red-headed stepchild. 

FYI... clearly Roman has done well at the MLB level so far but is there really a big difference between Mayer and Campbell that dictates he doesn't get to be part of the 2025 success?  Why tread Campbell like crap after the organization invested in him?  Hamilton hitting .174 on the MLB roster and no Campbell?  That's insulting.  Good thing he's already signed long-term!!

He should be enjoying being part of the 2025 run before it ends.  The atmosphere of the clubhouse in August in completely different from the atmosphere in June when the team was .500.  As a player secured for the long-term he deserves to be on the MLB roster not Hamilton.

 

Campbell has a 794 OPS in AAA right now. Can't say that's good enough to demand a callup with his horrid defense. Mayer was called up because he's a good defender and the Sox had a defensive need. 

Abraham Toro was hitting 883 in AAA this season. Until Campbell can clear that mark, he can stay down there and work on his terrible defense.