Red Sox prospect rankings are already beginning to look a lot different than they did one year ago. Baseball America revealed its 2026 top 10 prospects for Boston this week, showcasing a new wave of youngsters emerging within the organization.
Heading the list at the No. 1 spot is left-handed pitcher Payton Tolle. His exhilarating MLB debut in late August, during Boston’s intense playoff push, quickly made him a household name in New England. While Baseball America places Tolle at No. 1, MLB.com’s most recent—and final—2025 ranking has him at No. 2.
Tolle’s rapid ascent through the Red Sox minor league system in 2025 brought him to the forefront of fans’ attention. After being selected in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, he started 2025 with Single-A Greenville. From there, he was promoted to Double-A Portland on June 24 and then jumped up to Triple-A Worcester on August 6.
His impressive performance earned him Boston’s Minor League Baseball Pitcher of the Year Award. By the end of August, the 22-year-old was starting a game at Fenway Park. In a standout outing against Pirates’ star pitcher Paul Skenes—2024 National League Rookie of the Year and eventual 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner—Tolle outdueled him by pitching 5⅓ innings, striking out eight batters, and allowing just three hits.
Although Tolle struggled during the remainder of the regular season and was eventually moved to the bullpen, his attributes remain highly promising. His fastball averages 96.6 miles per hour, according to Baseball Savant, and has touched 99 MPH. Coupled with his rugged demeanor on the mound and enticing upside, these qualities secured him BA’s No. 1 prospect spot entering 2026.
Interestingly, Tolle has drawn comparisons to former Red Sox ace Jon Lester even before his MLB debut. MLB.com’s Sam Dykstra remarked the day before his first big-league appearance:
> “The Red Sox are calling up their most exciting homegrown left-handed pitcher since Jon Lester.”
Double-A Portland manager Chad Epperson weighed in on this comparison prior to Tolle’s call-up:
> “This is hard for me to say. But this guy, he’s a Jonny Lester-type guy to me—can’t-miss, dominant, big leaguer,” said Epperson, who has worked in the Sox system since 2002. “He’s a rat. He just wants information. He wants to be around this. And I think those intangibles there, and with the talent, this guy’s going to be really, really special.”
Lester’s shoes are certainly big to fill, but Tolle appears more than up for the challenge.
Here is the remainder of Baseball America’s 2026 Top 10 Red Sox prospect rankings:
1. Payton Tolle, LHP
2. Franklin Arias, SS
3. Connelly Early, LHP
4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP
5. Luis Perales, RHP
6. Jhostynxon Garcia, OF
7. Juan Valera, RHP
8. Justin Gonzalez, OF
9. Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP
10. Dorian Soto, SS
With such a talented group on the rise, Boston’s farm system looks poised to make a significant impact in the coming years. Fans have plenty to be excited about as these young players continue their development.
https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2025/11/28/payton-tolle-red-sox-baseball-america-prospect-ranking/
