'It's what I want to do': No. 1 prospect Payton Tolle reportedly set to join the Boston Red Sox

The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher has allowed 12 hits, 8 runs (5 earned) and 4 walks across 15 innings and 3 starts with the WooSox so far this spring. He’s struck out 19 batters and recorded a 3.00 ERA while working heavily on his changeup and curveball to pair with his “three-headed monster” repertoire of a fastball, cutter and sinker.

“When he’s landing his off-speed (pitches) for strikes and then running 98 (miles per hour) with that big extension in on lefties and running (it in), he’s very difficult to deal with,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “… If he’s getting all of his arsenal in the strike zone, he’s tough to deal with.”

WooSox pitcher Payton Tolle starts against Columbus April 13 at Polar Park.

Tolle was originally slated to start for Worcester on April 11 and April 12 in Nashville, but was scratched both days as part of a contingency plan for the Red Sox in case they needed additional arms in Boston.

Then, on Monday, Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray left his start with a right hamstring strain and landed on the 15-day injured list a day later.

While Worcester began a six-game homestand at Polar Park Tuesday, the Triple-A club opted not to list Tolle in their pitching probables. Tracy said his burly left-hander was left in “limbo” and that there was “a pretty good likelihood” that Tolle would go up to Boston soon.

“Whenever he’s called upon, he’ll be ready to go,” the WooSox manager said.

WooSox pitcher Payton Tolle is interviewed at Polar Park April 11.

That time came Wednesday.

The carrot no longer dangles in front of the face of the southpaw with a stocky mustache.

“Like the donut hanging in front of you like you’re Homer Simpson,” Tolle said.

‘You’re so pretty’

Payton Tolle started growing his now infamous mustache when he was playing for High-A Greenville last year.

What originally started out as a joke — and was followed up with a few botched dye jobs — turned into a staple on his upper lip. The mustache checked off another box on the personality bingo card for Tolle.

“It is artificially enhanced, but it’s not a sloppy job either — it’s down to a science,” Tolle said on Cassell’s Corner podcast. “I know about every two Mondays it should be dyed and now we know where to be with it.

Red Sox pitching prospect Payton Tolle met with the media inside the WooSox dugout at Polar Park on Aug. 6, 2025 during his first day with Triple-A Worcester.

“People have taken to it.”

When Tolle took his big-league mustache to Fenway Park for his Major League debut last August, Tolle said he heard his mother “somewhere out there” in the crowd during the Red Sox’ game against the Pirates.

Tolle’s mom, Jina, died on May 9, 2024, following a lengthy battled with colon cancer. She passed away just two months before Boston selected Tolle with the No. 50 overall pick in the MLB Draft.

“She was just a rock for me. She was there every single time,” Tolle said. “… She always had the best advice. She was my best friend.”

When Tolle pitches this season, the Oklahoma native wears a black baseball glove on his right hand with the words ‘You’re so pretty’ inscribed on it. The quote comes from his mom, who used to say those three words to her oldest son before all his baseball, basketball and football games.

“(I) pick sayings from her that kind of remind me of her because she’s always there and watching over me, and it’s been fun,” Tolle said on Cassell’s Corner podcast. “I got a few more quotes.”

Payton Tolle signals how many outs there are during his start with the Triple-A Worcester on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

All roads lead to Boston

The past few years have been described as a “whirlwind” by Payton Tolle.

From pitching in college (TCU) in 2024 to pitching in the pros (Boston) in 2025, the Red Sox’ No. 1 prospect has developed quite the reputation — both on and off the mound.

“It’s just fun to be around him, and I think it rubs off on everybody else,” Tracy said. “And I think that’s why everybody else loves him so much.”

Worcester pitcher Payton Tolle walks the line after being introduced on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park.

And after spending nearly a week waiting in limbo with the WooSox, Tolle appears to be on the move to the big leagues. He’ll join the Red Sox in time for their final game of a series against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

It’s Tolle Time in Boston, again.

“We know what the goal is like,” Tolle said. “We know what it feels like, we know what it looks like, we know what it tastes like, we know that feeling of getting on the mound in front of 30,000 people. So now it’s just ‘What can I do to, where, whenever I get up there again, how can I stay?’”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Payton Tolle will reportedly be called up to join the Boston Red Sox