Red Sox Bullpen X-Factors Fuel Up for Playoff Push

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora

With the trade deadline passed and the Boston Red Sox clawing to stay in the playoff mix, reinforcements are going to have to come from within.

Fortunately, the Red Sox have a pair of hot arms getting ready for the stretch run.

David Sandlin and Payton Tolle , both recent arrivals to Triple-A Worcester , have been fast-tracked for a reason. With Boston eyeing bullpen upgrades and both young pitchers drawing rave reviews in recent weeks, there’s growing buzz that the organization could give the duo their first taste of the majors before the 2025 season is done.

It’s a remarkable rise for two of Boston’s top prospects , who started the year in very different places but could wind up in the same spot.

David Sandlin & Payton Tolle Moved to Bullpen After Promotion to Triple-A

Sandlin has long had the makeup of a high-octane reliever, but it wasn’t until this summer that the results caught up to the stuff. An 11th-round pick by the Royals in 2022, Sandlin came to Boston via the John Schreiber trade in February 2024, and he has turned heads ever since.

The 24-year-old righty has flashed a fastball that now touches triple digits. He also boasts three separate fastball looks with a four-seamer that rides up in the zone, as well as a sinker and cutter.

Sandlin, Boston’s No. 11 prospect, has been primarily a starter this season, first for Double-A Portland, where he posted a 3.61 ERA in 17 appearances, with 86 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. Called up to Worcester at the start of August, he made one start for the WooSox before the organization decided to see how Sandlin looked in a relief role.

“It’s not a long-term thing,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “He’s gonna start. But if they need him in the bullpen, you can come out of there throwing 98, 99 (mph) and move your fastball three ways and throw strikes, like, we want to explore that.”

Where Sandlin has the edge, Tolle brings the energy. The 6-foot-6 lefty has been a fan favorite since his collegiate days, and he has made plenty more fans during his quick run through the Red Sox system, which has seen Tolle bumped up to the No. 3 spot among Boston’s prospects.

Selected in the second round of the 2024 draft, Tolle began the 2025 season with High-A Greenville, where he made 11 appearances, striking out 79 batters in 49.2 innings. Tolle was promoted to Double-A Portland in late June, but he was there for only six appearances, including five starts, posting a 1.67 ERA and 0.74 WHIP.

Though he’s been a starter for most of his career, Tolle said he is open to filling whatever role the Red Sox have in mind for him. And no matter when he pitches, Tolle is going to enjoy it, just like he always has.

“I’m going to have a whole lot of fun on the mound,” Tolle said. “I hope people have as much fun watching me pitch as I enjoy pitching, but that’s going to be hard, because I have a lot of fun.”

David Sandlin & Payton Tolle Could Give Boston a Pair of Hard Throwing Relievers

For the Red Sox, it would be fun to add a pair of hard throwers to a bullpen that has had its moments this year, but with injuries mounting and workloads piling up, there’s a sense of urgency behind the scenes. The club recently converted Sandlin to relief with this possibility in mind, and Tolle — though still being stretched out — could follow suit depending on need.

It’s a gamble, sure. But with the Wild Card picture tightening and October aspirations still in reach, Boston may turn to its new wave of power arms to get them over the finish line.

Tolle and Sandlin may not have been household names when the year began. But if things break right, they could be household names by the time it ends.

Dave Benson is a veteran writer with over three decades of journalism experience covering sports primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent several years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson