Triple-A Manager Expects Payton Tolle To Join Red Sox This Week: 'Pretty Good Likelihood'

Boston Red Sox Pitcher Payton Tolle

Triple-A Manager Expects Payton Tolle To Join Red Sox This Week: 'Pretty Good Likelihood' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox could be looking to bring Payton Tolle up to help cover innings with Sonny Gray on the injured list with a hamstring strain.

The Red Sox placed Gray on the injured list on Tuesday and called up Tyler Samaniego. Samaniego has pitched in the big leagues three times this season, each time coming in relief. He has four relief outings in the minor leagues as well. Samaniego will help in the bullpen, but the Red Sox may need a starter for when Gray's spot in the rotation comes up again.

Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy noted on Tuesday that he thinks there's a strong chance Tolle joins the Red Sox later this week, per MassLive's Katie Morrison-O'Day.

"There’s a 'pretty good likelihood' Tolle goes up to the Red Sox this week, according to Chad Tracy — he’s not scheduled to pitch in Worcester this week as of now," O'Day wrote on X on Tuesday.

Tolle was in a battle for the final rotation spot in spring training. Eventually, that spot went to , with starting in the bullpen. Now, Oviedo is on the injured list, and Early's spot seems cemented. Early is the Red Sox's No. 3 prospect, while Tolle is the top prospect.