Payton Tolle

Payton Tolle
Boston Red Sox – No. 70
Pitcher
Born: (2002-11-01) November 1, 2002
Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 29, 2025, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through August 31, 2026)
Win–loss record8–7
Earned run average3.54
Strikeouts166
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Payton John Tolle (born November 1, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Amateur career

Tolle attended Bethany High School in Bethany, Oklahoma. He enrolled at Wichita State University, where he played college baseball as a two-way player for the Wichita State Shockers. He batted .320 and pitched to a 9–2 win–loss record for the Shockers as a sophomore in 2023 and was a finalist for the John Olerud Award.[1]

After the 2023 season, Tolle transferred to Texas Christian University (TCU) to play for the TCU Horned Frogs.[2] In his lone year at TCU in 2024, he was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year after going 7–4 with a 3.21 earned run average (ERA) and 125 strikeouts in 81+1⁄3 innings pitched.[3]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Boston Red Sox selected Tolle in the second round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5] He signed with the Red Sox and made his professional debut in 2025 with the Greenville Drive, was promoted to the Portland Sea Dogs in June, and was promoted to the Worcester Red Sox in early August.[6] Across three minor league levels, Tolle recorded a 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 133 strikeouts over 91+2⁄3 innings.[7]

Boston Red Sox (2025–present)

2025: MLB debut

On August 29, 2025, Tolle was called up to the Red Sox and made his major league debut that evening, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[8][9] Tolle pitched 5+2⁄3 innings allowing two earned runs, three hits, and two walks while recording eight strikeouts.[10] After struggling in his next two starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Athletics, Tolle was moved to the bullpen for the remainder of the season.[11]

Following the 2025 regular season, Tolle was added to the playoff roster for the AL Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.[12]

2026

Tolle was optioned to Triple-A Worcester to begin the 2026 season.[13] He was again called up to the Red Sox on April 23, 2026.[14] On August 7, he recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts over six innings against the Athletics, helping Boston secure its ninth consecutive win. In doing so, he became the youngest Red Sox pitcher to reach the 14-strikeout threshold since Roger Clemens.[15][16][17]

Personal life

Tolle married his longtime girlfriend, Devin Melton, during the 2026 All-Star break.[18]

Tolle's mother, Jina, died from cancer in 2024. Tolle pays tribute to her with the words "you're so pretty" inscribed on his glove. Jina would yell those words to playfully embarrass Tolle in front of his friends and teammates.[19]

Tolle is a Christian. He was baptized in January 2026. He has said, "I think I just hope my platform can give others hope. I have been through some hard things during the past few years, and I want to show people that by trusting God, you can make it through and have a good attitude. I feel like I have a unique opportunity to show others the love of Jesus with the platform He has blessed me with."[20]

References

  1. ↑ Eldridge, Taylor (May 31, 2023). "Wichita State's Payton Tolle named finalist for college baseball 2-way Player of the Year". The Wichita Eagle.
  2. ↑ Eldridge, Taylor (June 30, 2023). "What former Wichita State two-way baseball star Payton Tolle considered in TCU transfer". The Wichita Eagle.
  3. ↑ Scotchie, Luke (August 20, 2024). "How Payton Tolle's mother helped him become a Boston Red Sox". Boston.com.
  4. ↑ "Red Sox draft lefty pitcher Payton Tolle with 50th overall pick". masslive.com. July 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ Smith, Christopher (July 15, 2024). "Who's Payton Tolle? Red Sox draft pick up to 96 mph, 'fastball moves'". masslive. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  6. ↑ Geagan, Matt (August 4, 2025). "Red Sox top pitching prospect Payton Tolle promoted to Triple-A Worcester". CBS News. Boston. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Payton Tolle". Baseball Reference. August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ Browne, Ian (August 29, 2025). "Red Sox call up top pitching prospect Tolle for MLB debut vs. Skenes". MLB.com. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  9. ↑ @MLB (August 29, 2025). "Payton Tolle strikes out the first batter he faces in his Major League debut for the @RedSox" (Tweet). Retrieved August 29, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ↑ Browne, Ian (August 30, 2025). "Payton Tolle makes first career start at Fenway Park". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (September 17, 2025). "Red Sox decide rotation for rest of season, move Payton Tolle to new role after three starts". masslive.com. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ Browne, Ian (September 30, 2025). "Tolle and Harrison crack Red Sox's Wild Card Series roster". mlb.com. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Red Sox Option Payton Tolle; Connelly Early To Break Camp". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Red Sox Recall LHP Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester". MLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ Browne, Ian (August 7, 2026). "Tolle's 14-K gem reminiscent of Clemens ... and draws comp to Skubal". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  16. ↑ Cerullo, Mac (August 8, 2026). "Payton Tolle strikes out 14 as Red Sox rout A's for ninth straight win". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  17. ↑ Lin, Dennis (August 8, 2026). "Payton Tolle's historic performance powers Red Sox to 9th straight win". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ Browne, Ian (July 17, 2026). "Tolle tied the knot over All-Star break, but baseball junkie still tuned in". mlb.com. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ Browne, Ian (August 19, 2026). "'You're so pretty': Tolle brings his mother's words with him to every start". mlb.com. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  20. ↑ Claybourn, Cole. "Rookie Payton Tolle thriving in Red Sox rotation, strengthened by 'finding time to talk to God'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
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