Worcester sits above .500 at 64-61 and has navigated a season of heavy roster churn. Marcelo Mayer, Kristain Campbell, Roman Anthony, and Jhostynxon Garcia have all been promoted. Despite those departures, the WooSox have held their own and are now shining a light on the next wave of potential big-league contributors. Two names making the loudest case right now are Kristain Campbell and Payton Tolle.
Campbell began the season at the major-league level and stumbled after an encouraging start. Since July 19, though, he’s been one of Worcester’s hottest bats, hitting .331 across 31 games with a .940 OPS, five doubles, six homers, and 22 RBIs, production that demands attention. If Boston needs a middle-of-the-order jolt, Campbell has shown he can provide it.
On the mound, Payton Tolle has progressed rapidly through Greenville and Portland to Worcester, and his brief sample in Triple-A is compelling. In 15 innings for Worcester he has a 3.60 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 mark; his most recent start featured five innings, one hit, one run and nine strikeouts, with 12 whiffs and a 97 mph top velo. That performance showcased swing-and-miss stuff and polish beyond his experience level.
With Boston shuffling players through the big-league club, both Campbell and Tolle are ones to watch as the season winds down, each could be next in line if an opening appears.
