Red Sox Reportedly Calling Up Top Prospect For Must-Win Series Finale Vs. Yankees
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The Boston Red Sox are calling up their top prospect.
MassLive's Chris Cotillo reported that the Red Sox are promoting Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester to start Thursday's series finale against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.
Brayan Bello was originally scheduled to start on Thursday, but he was pushed back to Friday to take Sonny Gray's spot after Gray went on the injured list earlier this week with a right hamstring strain.
Tolle, 23, is Boston's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He debuted for the Red Sox last year but struggled in his first taste of the Major Leagues with a 6.06 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.
Source: Red Sox have tabbed Payton Tolle to start for them tomorrow, as expected.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 23, 2026
This will be Tolle's fourth career start and first against the Yankees. He faced them out of the bullpen in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series last fall, recording an out against them.
The big left-hander started 2026 in Worcester and has pitched well there, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 15 innings over three starts.
Boston is hoping he can provide similar results against New York after dropping the first two games of this week's series. The Red Sox are 2-4 on their current homestand and are desperate for a win to avoid getting swept.
All eyes will be on Tolle to see if he can deliver during his season debut against Cam Schlittler, who's also in his second season. Boston's bats will try to wake up and give Tolle some run support after scoring just one run on nine hits over the last two games.
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