'It’s fun to watch him pitch': Payton Tolle terrific in third start with WooSox

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

Pitcher Payton Tolle puts his hand up during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with Triple-A Worcester on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

1 / 5

'It’s fun to watch him pitch': Payton Tolle terrific in third start with WooSox

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

1 / 5

'It’s fun to watch him pitch': Payton Tolle terrific in third start with WooSox

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

2 / 5

'It’s fun to watch him pitch': Payton Tolle terrific in third start with WooSox

Pitcher Payton Tolle puts his hand up during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

3 / 5

'It’s fun to watch him pitch': Payton Tolle terrific in third start with WooSox

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

4 / 5

Photos: Tolle picks up win in start with WooSox

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with Triple-A Worcester on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

5 / 5

'It’s fun to watch him pitch': Payton Tolle terrific in third start with WooSox

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

WORCESTER — It was Tolle Time Sunday at Polar Park.

Payton Tolle, the Boston Red Sox’ top-ranked prospect, made his third start of the year for the WooSox during their 8-2 win over the Columbus Clippers.

In his first two starts for Triple-A Worcester, Tolle eased into his second season in professional baseball by allowing nine hits, eight runs (five earned) and three walks while striking out 13 batters across 10 innings.

Yet on Sunday, the 6-foot-6 left-hander dove right in at Polar Park and showed why he’s considered one of the top prospects in baseball. Tolle tossed five innings of scoreless ball, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six.

He threw 75 pitches (47 for strikes) and topped out at 98.6 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball. Tolle picked up his second win of the season.

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

“It was definitely the most complete-of-an outing that I’ve had in a little bit,” Tolle told the T&G postgame.

“He was really good,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said.

Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Tolle broke the bat of three Columbus hitters on Sunday and threw his changeup (7 times) and curveball (11 times), with the latter pitch producing four called strikes.

Pitcher Payton Tolle puts his hand up during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

Those are two offerings he’s currently focusing on as secondary pitches to throw in the strike zone — to add to his already above-average fastball.

“The expectation, the last couple outings, really since we started the season here, is let’s just flood the zone with everything,” WooSox pitching coach Dan DeLucia. “He’s taken a step forward every outing now.”

“It’s electric stuff, so anytime you have somebody going out there that’s going to show you some stuff, like, we may touch (100 mph) today, it’s very exciting,” Tracy said. “It’s a different animal. Just the bats flying all over the field. Some of them are broken at the handle. There’s stuff that happens in his starts that suggests his stuff looks pretty dominant. So, it’s fun to watch him pitch.”

After having an impressive spring training with the Red Sox, but not being selected to start the season in the big leagues while fellow lefty pitcher Connelly Early was tabbed to begin the year in the Sox rotation, Tolle is working on throwing his secondary pitches in the strike zone with the WooSox.

That’s item No. 1 on Tolle’s to-do list to show he’s ready for an eventual call up to the big leagues.

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

“Everything’s really starting to take off, especially with the off-speed pitches,” Tolle said. “So just trying to continue to do what we’re doing with it and just keep going. Just keep competing.”

A year after Tolle rose through the ranks of the Red Sox organization — from starting in High-A Greenville to ending the year in the big leagues with Boston — the Red Sox’ top prospect began this season in Worcester.

And with performances like Sunday, Tolle’s time in Triple A could be short and sweet — like it was last season.

Payton Tolle throws a pitch during his start with the WooSox on April 12, 2026 at Polar Park.

His starts have become appointment viewing with the WooSox at Polar Park.

“He’s taken a step forward every outing and hopefully he continues to do that,” DeLucia said. “The talent that he has and the personality that he has, it’s honestly a real joy to be around him and watch him pitch.”

—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 dominates in third start of 2026 season with WooSox