Red Sox Replace World Series Star Buehler with Prospect Payton Tolle and Get a Gem in His MLB Debut
Payton Tolle, Boston's top left-handed pitching prospect, debuts amid rotation challenges; he faces Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who leads MLB with a 2.07 ERA this season.
- On Friday, the Red Sox called up Payton Tolle to make his Major League debut at Fenway Park, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
- Tolle's ascent—from the 2024 Draft pick to Triple-A this month—was meteoric, rising from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland on June 24 and Triple-A Worcester on Aug. 6 with 133 strikeouts over 91 2/3 innings, a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.
- Paul Skenes, the Pirates' 23-year-old ace, enters the matchup with a 2.07 ERA, 181 strikeouts in 161 innings, and is viewed as a leading National League Cy Young Award candidate.
- Pittsburgh rallied in the sixth to beat Boston 4-2, with Paul Skenes pitching six innings allowing one earned run and striking out six for the win.
- Amid rotation turmoil, the Red Sox pushed back Dustin May's start to Saturday, opening a spot filled by Payton Tolle after veteran Walker Buehler's removal last week.
52 Articles
52 Articles
Skenes helps Pirates beat Red Sox
BOSTON — Paul Skenes pitched six strong innings, and Tommy Pham and Andrew McCutchen hit back-to-back doubles after the Pirates chased Red Sox phenom Payton Tolle in his major league debut, rallying Pittsburgh to a 4-2 victory on Friday night. Skenes (9-9) allowed one earned run on seven hits and a walk, striking out six in six innings. Dennis Santana pitched the ninth to earn his 11th save and give the last-place Pirates their seventh win in ni…
"I couldn't feel my feet" - Payton Tolle gets emotional as Red Sox prospect earns roaring standing ovation during unforgettable MLB debut
The Boston Red Sox's elite farm system, one of the best in the country, unearthed another future star on Friday as rookie starter Payton Tolle made his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirate

Paul Skenes outduels Red Sox, Payton Tolle in his debut
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a winner out of Paul Skenes in a matchup of exciting young pitchers, scoring three runs in the sixth inning in a 4-2 win over MLB-debuting Payton Tolle and the Boston Red Sox in the opener…
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