Red Sox See ‘Sky’s The Limit’ For Fast-Rising Pitching Prospect

The Boston Red Sox have been devoid of legitimate, high-end pitching prospects for a few seasons.

But they might have one in their farm system now.

Payton Tolle has caught attention this season with the 6-foot-6, 250-pound lefty’s ability to mow down opposing lineups with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball. Those outside the Red Sox organization have noticed Tolle, too. Tolle was recently named to Baseball America’s prestigious top 100 list, coming in at No. 94.

The Red Sox see this as just the start for the 22-year-old Tolle, who they believe is brimming with potential.

“Sky’s the limit,” Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni told The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Tolle is 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.17 WHIP to go along with 34 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings this season with High-A Greenville. Tolle’s most eye-catching outing came earlier this month when he struck out 12 batters in five innings while allowing no runs on three hits.

The Red Sox drafted Tolle 50th overall out of TCU in last year’s MLB draft. He didn’t pitch last season after getting drafted, but obviously has made a good impression so far this year. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the 16th-best prospect in the Red Sox farm system and fifth-best pitching prospect.

Tolle isn’t the only Red Sox pitching prospect catching eyes as Tolle’s Greenville teammate Brandon Clarke is highly regarded, too. Clarke, who is ranked No. 96 on Baseball America’s top 100 list, already received a promotion from Low-A Salem to Greenville this season.

Clarke has allowed just three earned runs across 16 2/3 innings between the two levels with a spectacular 0.42 WHIP and 0.070 batting average against. The 22-year-old lefty also racked up 30 strikeouts in his five starts.

“What we’ve seen, we’re super excited, but it’s also like, why stop now?” Toboni said. “I think both of them have another gear in them, and we’re fully committed to obviously seeing that through.”