Red Sox: big prospect Payton Tolle to face Paul Skenes tonight

Did we ever tell you that the Red Sox know how to draft? We think we told you recently on a podcast near you, anyway.

But hey. All that to say, Payton Tolle is a good example. The second-round pick in 2024 is thriving on the mound in his first year in the pros.

And now he's going to be rewarded.

Tonight, when Paul Skenes takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates at the legendary Red Sox Stadium, Tolle will be the starting pitcher in his Major League Baseball debut.

No pressure, kid.

Tolle is the Sox' top prospect on the mound, and he'll be called upon to pitch in an environment that won't be easy to manage. Will he be able to deliver the goods in a playoff race?

Red Sox top pitching prospect Payton Tolle expected to make his MLB debut tomorrow night at Fenway Park against the Pirates' Paul Skenes, sources tell @TheAthletic. Tolle, a left-hander, was the team's second-round pick out of TCU last year. Meteoric rise in first pro season.

– Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 28, 2025

Tolle will be the ninth rookie to play for the Boston club this season.

Seeing the Red Sox bring in a guy with no experience will make this a duel not to be missed. Two good youngsters (including Skenes, who's battling for the Cy Young) on the mound is a seller.

I can't wait to see how the Boston prospect is handled. Do the Red Sox want to give him a full-time spot in the rotation right away? Is he only there for one or two starts?

Jonah Tong will make his Mets debut, and Shane Bieber will pitch at Rogers Centre for the first time since being traded last month.

All of which makes one wonder if the Blue Jays, who also have a big prospect who was drafted in 2024 and is breaking it down at several levels in the minors, will emulate the Red Sox in the coming days or weeks.

Trey Yesavage in the bullpen could do it…

https://twitter.com/OverDrive1050/status/1961198588492489037

This content was created with the help of AI.