{"id":639807,"date":"2026-03-23T23:57:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T23:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/639807\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T23:57:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T23:57:20","slug":"red-sox-cut-23-year-old-with-2-53-era-three-days-before-opening-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/639807\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Sox cut 23-year-old with 2.53 ERA three days before Opening Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Payton Tolle did nearly everything he could to make the Boston Red Sox\u2019s opening day roster.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old left-hander allowed three runs on eight hits in 10.2 spring innings (2.53 ERA), walking one batter and striking out 13. Tolle, Boston\u2019s number-1 prospect, even volunteered to move to the bullpen<\/a> if it meant not being optioned to the minors to start the 2026 MLB<\/a> season.<\/p>\n

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MORE: Former Red Sox 3-time All-Star cut days before Opening Day<\/a><\/p>\n

None of it could save Tolle from being sent to Triple-A on March 23, as Boston trimmed its roster three days before Opening Day.<\/p>\n

Right-handers Zack Kelly and Tyler Uberstine were also optioned to Worcester, and Tommy Kahnle was reassigned.<\/p>\n

The Red Sox open the regular season March 26 in Cincinnati against the Reds.<\/p>\n

Kelly, 30, went 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in seven spring training games. Uberstine, 25, was 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA in his four Grapefruit League appearances.<\/p>\n

Kahnle, 36, was a late arrival in camp. After pitching for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, the veteran right-hander signed with the Red Sox on March 19. He made one Grapefruit League appearance for Boston and didn\u2019t allow a run in his only inning.<\/p>\n

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While Kahnle was expected to start the season in the minors building up his workload, Tolle\u2019s fate was not sealed until this week.<\/p>\n

His demotion means Boston will begin its season with a five-man rotation of Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo, Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello.<\/p>\n

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