Red Sox select Payton Tolle with 50th overall pick

Tolle, 21, spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Wichita State University -- where he was a standout two-way player -- before transferring to TCU for his junior season. The Oklahoma native was used on both sides of the ball by the Horned Frogs this past season, but he found more success on the mound than at the plate.

In contrast to slashing just .182/.303/.327 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 66 plate appearances, Tolle posted a 3.21 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 125 strikeouts to 37 walks over 14 starts (81 1/3 innings). Within his conference, he was recognized as the Big 12's Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year. He was also named a Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Tolle throws from a three-quarters arm slot that can create deception. The imposing lefty operates with a frequently employed 90-92 mph fastball that tops out at 96 mph, an 80-85 mph sweeping slider, and a mid-80s changeup and curveball that are rarely used. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline note that Tolle will need to improve his command and secondaries in order to stick as a starter moving forward.

Tolle, who turns 22 in November, will be developed solely as a pitcher, according to Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson. At 50th overall, Tolle is Boston's highest pitching selection since right-hander Tanner Houck was taken with the 24th pick in 2017. The full slot value for the 50th overall pick in this year's draft is $1,846,400.