Why rookie Payton Tolle is embracing being ‘star-struck’ in Red Sox clubhouse filled with stars
Payton Tolle has had to make many introductions since joining the Red Sox on August 30. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)Boston Globe via Getty Images
Shortly after leaving the mound at the end of an electric major league debut at Fenway late last month, Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle noted that he took a moment, as he was taken out of the game, to tell his infielders how “cool” he thought they were. It wasn’t a bit.
Tolle, now in his second full week as a big leaguer, hasn’t tried too hard to play it cool in his own right. Instead, a 22-year-old who was pitching in the Big 12 last year and started this season at High-A has repeatedly told himself to embrace, in his words, “the star-struckness of it all.”
Tolle, unlike fellow top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, didn’t spend any part of spring training with the major league club in February or March. He had met manager Alex Cora just once, when he visited Fenway Park to sign his contract after the draft last summer, and had spent little to no time with most of his Red Sox teammates before getting called up on August 30. Outside of a couple players who he overlapped with during a short stint in Worcester and pitchers Garrett Whitlock and Brennan Bernardino, who Tolle had trained with in Fort Myers over the winter, there weren’t many familiar faces waiting for Tolle when he arrived in the bigs. Instead of playing it off, Tolle has been rather forthright about the awe he has experienced.
“You see guys and it’s like, ‘I’ve shook your hand. You’re not just another face on TV anymore,’” Tolle said. “I’m still wearing off the star-struckness of it all. There’s also a little bit of it because I think that’s good to have.
“If I was trying to hide it away, I wouldn’t be able to get comfortable and that’s kind of what I am. I want to be excited about where I’m at and excited that I get to share the field with these guys. Selfishly, I’ve worked hard to be here. I’m super grateful for the opportunity of it all. You get to step back and be like, ‘Man, I get to share the field with these guys. Guys who are All-Stars, future Hall of Famers.’ That’s neat.”
As he took the mound for the first time at Fenway, Tolle took note of who was behind him on the left side of the infield. Third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Trevor Story have combined for five All-Star appearances, two World Series titles and a long list of other accolades. It took a few repetitions for Tolle to come to grips with who was throwing him the ball when the Sox tossed it around the horn between batters.
“The first time Bregman threw the ball back to me on the mound, he threw it really hard, which was the first, ‘Woah’ moment,” Tolle said, laughing. “After that — I might have said it under my breath, I don’t know if he saw me say it — but every time I caught the ball, I was like, ‘Thank you, Alex Bregman!“
Boston’s pitching staff also features its share of accomplished players, and Tolle cited starters Garrett Crochet and Lucas Giolito as having been invaluable sounding boards during his first taste of big league action. The teammate who most caught Tolle’s attention, though, was a fellow big lefty with high-octane stuff. Aroldis Chapman’s first All-Star appearance came in 2012, not long before Tolle’s 10th birthday. Thirteen years later, Chapman is one of the elder statesman in a clubhouse that includes rookies like Tolle and Connelly Early, who said after his stellar debut that as a Reds fan growing up, he had a Fathead sticker of Chapman on the wall of his childhood bedroom.
Tolle was also a fan growing up.
“I was probably a sophomore in high school and I was trying to mimic everything,“ said Tolle, breaking into a pantomime demonstration of Chapman’s unique delivery by tucking his head into his shoulder. ”That’s kinda cool.”
As Tolle takes the mound for his third career start Wednesday in Sacramento, he’s already one of the guys. The one in awe of the others, in fact.
“The transition was super easy,” Tolle said. “One thing that I’ve learned, trying to become comfortable as quick as possible with everything, is that with this group of guys, it’s super easy.
“It’s very cool just because these guys are so cool — in every way,“ Tolle added. ”As baseball players, but as guys in general. I’m super honored and grateful to share the field with them."
Avalanche's Devon Toews Invests $5 Million in Freedom Service Dogs, Bringing New Hope to Veterans and People with Disabilities
In a remarkable act of compassion, hockey star Devon Toews has invested $5 million into Freedom Service Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned dogs and training them as service animals for people with disabilities, including military veterans and children in need.
Founded with a mission to transform lives, Freedom Service Dogs not only saves canines from shelters but also turns them into life-changing companions who provide both physical assistance and emotional healing. Toews’ significant financial contribution has quickly drawn attention across the sports community and beyond, as many see it as a shining example of how athletes can leverage their success to create lasting social impact.
“For me, this is more than just an investment. It’s a long-term commitment to making real change for those who need it most,” Toews said at a press briefing. He emphasized his belief in the unique healing power of animals, particularly for veterans coping with post-traumatic stress and for children growing up with physical or developmental challenges.
The $5 million investment will allow Freedom Service Dogs to expand its training facilities, hire more specialists, and enhance its customized training programs. According to estimates, this funding could support the training of hundreds of service dogs over the next several years, giving countless individuals the opportunity to access the life-changing support these animals provide.
Toews’ decision highlights a growing movement among athletes and public figures who are using their platforms and resources to champion humanitarian causes. At a time when many nonprofits face financial hurdles, his contribution brings renewed hope not only to the organization itself but also to the people and families who will benefit directly from its work.
Beyond the financial support, Toews’ involvement sends a powerful message: sports are not solely about victories, championships, or personal accolades. They can also serve as a platform to inspire positive change and strengthen communities.
By backing Freedom Service Dogs, Toews is helping rewrite the narrative for abandoned animals and the people whose lives they will transform. His $5 million investment ensures that hundreds of veterans, children, and individuals with disabilities will not face their struggles alone but will instead find companionship, confidence, and healing through the loyalty of a trained service dog.
This is more than philanthropy — it’s a commitment to creating lasting hope and dignity for those who need it most.
