Red Sox may promote Payton Tolle for Friday debut at Fenway vs Skenes

The Boston Red Sox are poised to promote left-handed pitching prospect Payton Tolle this week, with multiple reports saying the 22-year-old will make his major league debut Friday at Fenway Park against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes. The move would add a fresh arm to a rotation that has shown flashes of dominance but also recent instability, though some local reporting said late Thursday that Tolle could instead make his next scheduled start for Triple-A Worcester, leaving the club's plans unsettled heading into the weekend.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and other outlets reported that the club planned to call up Tolle and give him a start Friday, a high-profile matchup against Skenes and the struggling Pirates offense. Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reported a differing account, saying Tolle was slated to start for Worcester on Friday and could be brought up when the roster expands next week. The Red Sox have not issued an official announcement.

Tolle, a 6 foot 6, 250-pound second-round pick out of TCU in the 2024 draft, has rocketed through Boston's farm system in his first full professional season. In 18 minor league starts this year across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, he has...