By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON — The Red Sox made a flurry of roster moves Friday ahead of their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighted by the promotion of top pitching prospect Payton Tolle to the big leagues.
Tolle, 22, was selected from Triple-A Worcester and will make his Major League debut Friday night at Fenway Park. The left-hander, ranked as Boston’s No. 2 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB.com, has been one of the organization’s fastest risers in 2025. Across three levels this season, he has posted a 3.04 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP and an eye-popping 133 strikeouts in 91.2 innings, averaging more than 13 strikeouts per nine innings. Drafted in the second round last year, Tolle has already impressed at High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland, and most recently Worcester. He’ll wear No. 70 with the Red Sox.
To make room, Boston released veteran right-hander Walker Buehler. The 31-year-old struggled in his lone season with the Red Sox, recording a 5.45 ERA across 23 appearances (22 starts). A former All-Star with the Dodgers, Buehler owns a career 54-29 record with a 3.56 ERA over 154 games.
In addition, infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard was recalled from Worcester. The 27-year-old has appeared in 17 games for Boston this season, hitting .254 while seeing time across the infield. He’s also been one of Worcester’s most consistent bats, hitting .271 with 22 doubles and 61 runs scored in 90 games.
Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia was optioned to Worcester in a corresponding move. The 22-year-old debuted with the Red Sox earlier this year and has gone 1-for-7 with a double in five games. Ranked as the organization’s No. 3 prospect, Garcia has shown power in the minors, hitting 20 home runs across Portland and Worcester this season.
The spotlight, however, belongs to Tolle. The Oklahoma native’s debut comes at a crucial juncture for Boston, which has leaned heavily on its rotation during its late-summer push. The Red Sox hope the young lefty can provide an immediate spark as they continue their fight in the American League playoff race.