Tolle makes a big move in Boston's midseason prospect rankings

For the Red Sox, it has been a big season for the farm system, as the team’s highly touted Big 3 of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell all graduated from prospect status to make significant contributions to the Major League team.

That has put more of a spotlight on the next wave of prospects for Boston, and the pitching finally seems to be catching up to the position players.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is in the second year of his regime, and the team’s pitching infrastructure has produced notable results both through drafting and development.

MLB Pipeline revealed its midseason rankings on Monday, and lefty Payton Tolle’s ascension to the No. 2 spot in his first pro season is one of the many notable developments in Boston’s farm system. Tolle was recently promoted to Triple-A Worcester, an unusually fast climb through the system for a player who was taken in the ‘24 Draft.

Here’s a look at Boston’s top prospects:
1. Franklin Arias, SS
2. Payton Tolle, LHP
3. Jhostynxon Garcia, OF
4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP
5. Brandon Clarke, LHP
Complete Top 30 list

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list

Jump: Brandon Clarke, LHP (Preseason: 29 | Midseason: 5)
The team’s fifth-round Draft selection in 2024 out of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota has taken the farm system by storm, reaching triple digits at times with his fastball. Clarke made his first three pro starts for Single-A Salem before getting the promotion to High-A Greenville, where he has compiled 43 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings. Clarke has struggled with his control, however, walking 25 since the move to Greenville.

Fall: Yoelin Cespedes, 2B (Preseason: 7 | Midseason: 16)
Signed as a shortstop, Cespedes has limited range, forcing his move to second base. After getting the largest bonus pool in Boston’s 2023 international signing class, Cespedes hasn’t lived up to expectations. The 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic has struggled at the plate at Single-A Salem, but he still has some projectability left as he grows into his body.

New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization

4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP (Pick No. 15 in 2025 Draft)
12. Marcus Phillips, RHP (Pick No. 33 in 2025 Draft)
13. Anthony Eyanson, RHP (Pick No. 87 in 2025 Draft)
19. Henry Godbout, 2B (Pick No. 75 in 2025 Draft)

Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Franklin Arias
Power: 55 -- Jhostynxon Garcia (Miguel Bleis, Justin Gonzales, Dorian Soto)
Run: 65 -- Nelly Taylor
Arm: 70 -- Justin Gonzales
Defense: 60 -- Franklin Arias (Nelly Taylor)
Fastball: 70 -- Payton Tolle
Curveball: 60 -- Kyson Witherspoon
Slider: 70 -- Brandon Clarke
Changeup: 60 -- Connelly Early (Marcus Phillips)
Control: 70 -- Jedixson Paez