Red Sox Promote Top Prospect Payton Tolle For MLB Debut

The Boston Red Sox are preparing to make a significant pitching change by promoting their top prospect Payton Tolle, who is expected to make his MLB debut soon after Dustin May's start was pushed back. Tolle, a highly touted left-handed pitcher ranked No. 2 in the Red Sox system and No. 28 overall in baseball, has impressed across three minor league levels in 2025 with a 3.04 ERA and 133 strikeouts in just 91.2 innings. This promotion comes amid roster moves including optioning out rookie Jhostynxon Garcia and releasing Walker Buehler to make room for Tolle. Manager Alex Cora has indicated that no decision is official yet, but the likelihood of Tolle starting Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates is high, with the team seeking to solidify their rotation amid injuries and inconsistent performances from other pitchers. The Red Sox currently face rotation depth challenges, with Richard Fitts on the injured list and Kyle Harrison recovering from a brief outing in Triple-A, making Tolle's arrival critical for the team's playoff aspirations. Tolle's advanced strikeout ability and command position him as a future cornerstone of Boston's pitching staff, marking an exciting development for the franchise and its fans.