Boston Red Sox
“I’m good. I’m in one piece. I didn’t pee myself.”
Payton Tolle was a breakout star not just with the Red Sox in 2026, but across MLB — with the rookie lefty going viral for his push-ups on the mound, bromance with Nick Offerman, tagging out baserunners with a hug, and his overall affable personality.
Given his gregarious demeanor, it’s little surprise that the 23-year-old Boston starter is keeping busy during the 2026 World Series as an official MLB correspondent.
As part of his duties, Tolle — along with Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas and Blue Jays utility player Ernie Clement — will take part in social-media content, player and fan interviews, and more.
Tolle was on hand for Media Day ahead of the best-of-seven series between the Brewers and Rays — interviewing players including stars Christian Yelich and Junior Caminero.
“I realized, and I think this was while I was trying to get in line for the interview for Yelich, and I got shushed once,” Tolle told MLB Network of making the switch to journalist for Media Day. “Which I was like, I mean, I was having a great time. I was talking to the reporter next to me, like we’re just kicking it, and then ‘Shhhhh — oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know we were so formal.’”
Tolle put in the work during his time in Milwaukee at American Family Field, interviewing fans tailgating outside of the stadium ahead of Game 1.
Along with trying on one of the Brewers’ bottle-cap hats — a play on the Packers’ famous “Cheesehead” hats — Tolle also snacked on a Frito pie as he made his way through the parking lots.
Tolle also went viral for going down the slide hanging high above center field — which is usually reserved for the Brewers’ mascot, Bernie Brewer, after every home run and win at Milwaukee’s ballpark.
Tolle didn’t seem to enjoy the experience.
“For content, right,” Tolle asked before making the trek down the slide while wearing Meta camera glasses.
“Yeah, never again,” Tolle added with a laugh after finishing the slide. “I’m good. I’m in one piece. I didn’t pee myself.”
Tolle’s emergence as a potential ace is a welcome sight for the Red Sox, with his infectious personality making him a fan favorite in short order with both this market and across baseball.
“I’ve always been a competitor,” Tolle told MLB Network of his mentality. “Like, if we’re racing groceries from the car back to the house — like always competing at something. And I think that comes from my parents. That comes from my mom. I’m gonna care a lot about what I’m doing, and I’m gonna do it to my fullest potential, and I’m gonna have a ton of fun doing it.
“So, I think it’s just how I like playing the game. That’s how I want to show 40,000 people why I love it, and it’s just an honor to play the game every day.”
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