Boston Red Sox prospect Payton Tolle entertained reporters at the team's Fenway Fest this weekend, sharing quirky stories that highlight his rising popularity. The 23-year-old left-hander revealed his unusual pre-game ritual of consuming eight bananas to combat cramps. Tolle also praised affordable eats at Sam's Club and described his fastball with onomatopoeia.
Payton Tolle, ranked as the Red Sox's No. 2 prospect and No. 28 overall by MLB Pipeline, held court with reporters at Fenway Park during the Red Sox Fenway Fest this weekend. The event showcased Tolle's charisma, making him a quick fan favorite in Boston, especially with his trademark mustache drawing recognition from supporters around the city.
When asked about his go-to meal on pitching days, Tolle explained his reliance on bananas. "I have a lot of bananas," he said, referencing former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki's 2014 SportsNet interview where Kawasaki ate three bananas to avoid cramping, famously stating that "monkey never cramp." Tolle took it further: "Especially on start days, I have a tough time eating. And bananas were the only thing that I could eat. So one day, I had eight bananas before I pitched. And I was like, 'Well -- we got our potassium. So … Check.'"
Tolle fielded other food-related questions, enthusiastically endorsing Sam's Club offerings. He recounted being spotted by fans there while shopping for mass-produced waffles. "They have a dollar-fifty hot dog combo there," Tolle said. "We went and had family dinner there a few times this month. Get two slices of pizza, four-meat pizza. And they've got a nice Brisk raspberry tea there, it's pretty good. So maybe the Sam's is like … 'Hey, brand deal, I'll take it.'"
Shifting to baseball, Tolle described the rising movement he seeks on his fastball as "Pshew!" complete with a zooming hand gesture. "It's awesome that now they're gonna have to figure that out, how to write that in a paper, of me [going] 'Pshew!'" he joked. "I'm gonna come in one day and just speak in onomatopoeias, and you guys are gonna have a great time with that."
