Red Sox Make Big Payton Tolle Decision, Reveal Starter Vs. Rays
The Boston Red Sox decided on Monday that they’d be skipping rookie left-hander Payton Tolle’s turn through the rotation.
Manager Alex Cora then announced on Wednesday that Tolle would be moving to the bullpen for the remainder of the regular season.
Cora also revealed that fellow rookie Connelly Early would start on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays and later said that southpaw Kyle Harrison will toe the rubber on Saturday.
“Alex Cora announces that Payton Tolle will be pitching out of the bullpen from here on out. Kyle Harrison will start Saturday in Tampa and Connelly Early will start Sunday,” Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald posted on Bluesky.
Tolle was sharp in his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 29, surrendering two runs on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He struggled in his last two outings, however.
The 22-year-old Tolle has allowed seven runs (all earned) on eight hits — including four home runs — with four walks and four strikeouts over five frames in his last two starts.
Harrison landed with the Red Sox in June as a part of the blockbuster trade that sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
The former third-round pick spent nearly two months with Triple-A Worcester following the deal before being called up to Boston on Sept. 9. Harrison made his Red Sox debut the next day, pitching three scoreless innings out of the bullpen during the team’s 5-4 loss to the Athletics.