Red Sox rookie has at least thought about potential of ‘crazy’ All-Star selection after beginning year in minors

BOSTON — Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle appreciates teammate Ceddanne Rafaela recently calling him All-Star worthy.

“That’s really nice and I’m thankful for that,” Tolle said.

Beyond Rafaela’s support, there’s been buzz about Tolle’s All-Star candidacy on Boston sports radio and social media.

Tolle himself said he has thought about it.

“I have but it’s also I think that we have some incredible guys on this team that deserve it,” Tolle said. “So it’s cool. And just being in that conversation is amazing, but that’s kind of far out of mind for me.”

Tolle’s All-Star candidacy is remarkable considering he began this season at Triple-A Worcester. Boston promoted him April 23, when it needed a starter after placing Sonny Gray on the IL.

If all five starters in Boston’s Opening Day rotation had stayed healthy and performed well, Tolle might still be at Worcester.

“It is crazy. It’s a whirlwind,” Tolle said. “A little bit less of a whirlwind than it was last year.”

Last year was a whirlwind, for sure, with Tolle earning three different promotions from High-A Greenville to the majors in his first professional season.

“I think it’s just nice to be in the conversation,” he said. “I guess it doesn’t mean anything until it actually happens.”

So could it actually happen?

The 23-year-old lefty has a 2.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP while holding opponents to a .203 batting average in 12 starts. His peripherals are also impressive. He ranks in the 90th percentile in expected ERA (2.91), the 86th percentile in chase percentage (34.3%) and 84th percentile in expected batting average (.209).

He’s had an absolutely electric fastball, throwing it 48.2% of the time and holding opponents to a .150 batting average and .233 slugging percentage against it. His fastball run value (nine) is in the 92nd percentile while his pitching run value (10) is in the 87th percentile.

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However, there’s a case against his selection. Because he was in the minors for the first few weeks, he ranks 104th among major league pitchers in innings pitched with 71 ⅓ innings. There are 105 pitchers who have made more starts than him.

But there is precedent for star rookies being selected despite limited sample sizes.

Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski made the 2025 NL All-Star team after just five major league starts.

Paul Skenes made the 2024 NL All-Star team just 11 starts into his major league career.

Like Skenes and Misiorowski before him, Tolle brings star power and personality that MLB can market to younger fans.

Tolle has one of the league’s best personalities both on and off the field.

Tolle’s playful approach on the mound carries over into his postgame interviews. For example, he leaped — comically — for a ball about 30 feet over his head during a start against the Orioles on June 4, then jokingly told reporters, “That was close. I gave it an attempt.”

Tolle also had an unusual balk during that same game. After being called for the balk, instead of holding onto the ball, he threw it to the backstop. He turned a balk into one of the better quotes of the season. He told reporters, “There was no brain there. … I didn’t have a balk all year so I thought this was the perfect time for it. Yeah, I was in disbelief at myself. It creates good TV I guess. I don’t know.”

While Tolle is deserving, a case could be made that two other Red Sox starters, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, are even more deserving.

Tolle named several teammates he thinks are All-Star worthy.

“Chappie (Aroldis Chapman),” he said. “I think Sonny should be up there. I think Willson (Contreras), Rafa (Rafaela), Wilyer (Abreu) are having great years. Whit (Garrett Whitlock) is having a good year. Ranger is having a great year. Like, there’s so many guys, especially just in this pitching staff that are having great years, and you can’t just choose one.”

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