| Player: Payton Tolle | |||||||||||
| Org: Boston Red Sox | Highest Level: MLB | Position(s): LHP | |||||||||
| Height: 6’6” | Weight: 250 lbs. | Bats: Left | Throws: Left | ||||||||
| Summary: As the poster child for the Red Sox’ new pitching development program, Payton Tolle shot through the minor league ranks in his first full season of professional baseball. Going from High-A all the way to the show, the 2024 2nd round pick out of TCU turned heads with his newfound blazing fastball. He had an electric MLB debut, going toe to toe with Paul Skenes before cooling off, and began 2026 back in Triple-A. He recently made his season debut with the big club in Boston, striking out 11 Yankees over six innings of one-run baseball. His repertoire starts off with the big fastball, which will sit 96-98 and touch 100 with good movement. He will also feature a cutter and sinker off of the fastball, both of which sit in the mid 90’s. He rounds out his repertoire with a changeup at 89-90 with good movement that he mostly throws to right-handed hitters, as well as a curveball with good shape. The secondaries are still being refined, but have shown glimpses of being very good counterparts to the fastball. Mechanically, Tolle is slow to the plate and delivers from a lower arm slot. He really uses his legs to generate power, and gets more than 7 feet of extension, per Baseball Savant. He can lose pitches to the arm side, especially the fastball, but is improving with this as his development continues. For Tolle, his ceiling will be dictated by how good he can get his secondaries to be. His fastball is fantastic, no doubt about it, but it will only take him so far. He will also need to learn how to control his arsenal, but if his rapid development is any indication, he is more than up to the task. | |||||||||||
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