After his electrifying major league debut last Friday, Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect Payton Tolle will get another start on Friday in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, as part of a shakeup to the starting rotation as the season moves into its final month.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora made the announcement on Tuesday, also revealing that previously listed Friday starter Dustin May will be relegated to bullpen duty, at least for the week.
Alex Cora says that Dustin May will be in the bullpen this week pic.twitter.com/Izaqjv4bKb
— NESN (@NESN) September 2, 2025
While Cora said that Wednesday’s starter remained in the “to be decided” category, according to Worcester Telegram and Gazette beat writer Tommy Cassell, starter Kyle Harrison — who was acquired in the June 15 trade that sent four-time All-Star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants — made his way to Boston Tuesday.
Harrison could get the start on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians, but more likely according to multiple media reports is that the Red Sox will go with a bullpen game, meaning rather than go with a starter expected to last at least five innings, a succession of pitchers will take the mound for usually between one and three innings at a time.
The 24-year-old former Giants top-five prospect could fit somewhere in that mix.
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Based on a five-man rotation with four days off between starts, Wednesday would have been Tolle’s turn to take the mound. But the Red Sox elected to protect their 22-year-old lefty No. 2 overall prospect by pushing him back two days.
In his startling, sudden rise from making his pro debut at the High-A level in April, to his big league debut last week, Tolle has thrown 97 innings across 19 starts and one relief appearance in 2025.
“I think the innings are where they should be,” Cora told reporters. “Just, he hasn’t pitched in a regular rotation, so we have to take care of him.”
But Cora would not commit to naming Harrison Wednesday’s starter, or to a bullpen game, saying simply, “We’re here in the day-to-day business right now.”
A decision on Wednesday’s starter would be made on Wednesday, he said.
Harrison has already pitched 182 2/3 big league innings over three seasons, all with the Giants, too many to still be ranked as a “prospect.” In 49 1/3 innings across 11 starts for Worcester, the 24-year-old lefty posted a 3.68 ERA, striking out 48 and allowing five home runs.
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