Boston Red Sox’s top prospect, Payton Tolle, is set to make his season debut against the New York Yankees. The 23-year-old left-hander will start the final game of the three-game series at Fenway Park.
Tolle’s opportunity arises due to Sonny Gray’s hamstring strain, which has landed him on the 15-day injured list.
To make room for Tolle on the roster, left-hander Eduardo Rivera was sent to Triple-A Worcester.
Tolle Steps Up Amidst Rotation Changes
Tolle was considered the favourite to take Gray’s spot. He was scratched from his previous start as a contingency plan and is well-rested. The Red Sox pushed Brayan Bello back to Friday in Baltimore. The insertion of Tolle for Thursday’s contest allows ace Garrett Crochet and lefty Connelly Early to also get an extra day of rest before their respective starts on Saturday and Sunday against the O’s.
Tolle will face Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler to close out the series. Schlittler is a native of Walpole, Massachusetts.
Red Sox Look for a Spark
The Yankees have won the first two games of the series, 4-0 and 4-1. Tolle, known for his emotion on the mound, could provide a boost to the Red Sox, who have a 9-15 record.
Gray sustained his hamstring injury during a start against the Detroit Tigers. He pitched just 2 2/3 innings.
Tolle’s Journey Back to the Majors
Tolle made his debut for the Red Sox last season, recording a 6.06 ERA in seven appearances, including three starts. He competed for a spot in the starting rotation during Spring Training but ultimately lost out to Early. Gray’s injury now allows both young lefties to be in the rotation simultaneously, at least for the short term.
- In three starts for Worcester this season, Tolle is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
- He has 19 strikeouts and just four walks in 15 innings.
- Tolle worked on refining his secondary pitches in the offseason.
Gray Optimistic About Recovery
Gray is optimistic about his injury. “Overall, I feel as I hoped and expected to feel. There’s a little bit of soreness there, but it’s not that bad,” Gray said. “Overall, the way I feel is frustrated, but also I feel good. Frustrated because I’m going to probably miss a couple of starts, but I feel good because overall in the grand scheme of it, I feel good. That’s how I feel.”
Injuries to Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval have also impacted the team’s rotation depth. Crawford is recovering from right wrist surgery.
Going into the season, there was talk the Sox had an excess of starting pitching.