Payton Tolle leads the way as Franklin Arias, Connelly Early, and Kyson Witherspoon join Baseball America’s Top 100.
Four names, one direction for the system.
Baseball America released its Top 100 Prospects list for 2026 on Wednesday. While the Red Sox no longer occupy the top spots as they did during the Anthony/Mayer/Campbell era, the organization remains well represented.
Four Boston prospects made the Top 100, each representing different strengths: a power arm in the majors, a steady teenage infielder, a polished lefty trusted in October, and a first-round pick with loud upside.
With Anthony, Mayer, and Campbell now graduated out of prospect status, Payton Tolle leads the system at No. 17 overall. Franklin Arias (No. 49), Connelly Early (No. 52), and Kyson Witherspoon (No. 69) complete Boston’s Top 100 contingent, each illustrating a unique part of the organization’s plans.
Shoutout to Baseball America for all the excellent information on each player:
Payton Tolle, LHP (No. 17 overall)
Tolle’s ascent has been rapid, dominant, and - according to Baseball America - fully warranted.
Drafted in 2024, the 6-foot-6 left-hander didn’t just advance in his first full professional season, he flew through the system.
Tolle progressed from High-A to the majors in months, propelled by one of the most explosive fastballs in the minors. Baseball America awarded the pitch an 80 grade, reserved for exceptional velocity and movement, and it delivered at every level.
By season’s end, Tolle recorded six regular-season outings for Boston and even appeared in the playoffs, a remarkable progression for a pitcher so early in his development.
Despite the rapid ascent, evaluators do not view him as a volatile prospect. BA projects him as a reliable mid-rotation starter, with sufficient control and secondary pitches to hold that role for years.
While there’s still refinement needed - his slider, cutter, and changeup remain average - the foundation is clear.
Tolle is now more than a default top prospect, he’s someone who could be a rotation anchor sooner rather than later.
Sep 5, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle (70) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. (Rick Scuteri/Imagn Images)Franklin Arias, INF (No. 49 overall)
Arias’ appeal is understated but, in many respects, just as substantial as Tolle’s.
At 20, Arias has already reached Double-A and established himself as the Red Sox’s top position player prospect. Signed as an international free agent, he has built his resume around advanced hitting acumen, sharp infield defense, and the ability to grind out at-bats beyond his years.
Baseball America rates Arias as having a high floor. A 60 hit tool and 60 fielding grade suggest he’s likely a reliable everyday infielder, even if power development remains a question. Adding strength without sacrificing contact will determine his true ceiling.
That Arias already competes against upper-minors pitching speaks volumes. Depending on his development and injuries at the big league level, we may see Arias sooner than you think.
Greenville Drive infielder Franklin Arias (19) fields a ground ball Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 during the MiLB baseball game against the Hub City Spartanburgers at Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina. (Alex Martin/Greenville News/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)Connelly Early, LHP (No. 52 overall)
Early’s ranking reflects what the Red Sox saw in 2025:
He is closer to contributing than anticipated.
Early, 23, quickly moved through the minors and immediately impressed in Boston, striking out 11 in his debut and posting a 2.33 ERA in 19.1 innings. He then got the ball for Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series - a rare rookie vote of confidence.
Baseball America projects Early as a polished mid-rotation arm, relying on pitch mix and command over velocity. His changeup is his best secondary, fitting a profile of a pitcher who can handle lineups without overpowering stuff.
With arms at different stages, Early appears to have already accelerated his timeline.
Oct 2, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws to the plate in the first inning against the New York Yankees during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)Kyson Witherspoon, RHP (No. 69 overall)
Witherspoon is the most speculative - and perhaps the most intriguing - name on the list.
Boston took Witherspoon 15th overall last summer, the highest pick the organization has ever used on a college right-hander. He hasn’t pitched professionally, but his final season in Oklahoma showed why the Sox made the choice.
After gaining strength and refining his delivery, Witherspoon excelled in 2025, finishing with a 2.65 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 95 innings. Baseball America spotlights his five-pitch arsenal, led by a fastball that reaches 99 mph and a cutter already rated as plus. Equally vital, he commands the zone - a critical trait for starting pitchers.
Witherspoon is set to start his pro career at High-A Greenville, where performance will matter less than how his pitches translate against professional hitters.
If they do, his ranking will quickly rise.
May 21, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Oklahoma pitcher Kyson Witherspoon (26) pitches against Georgia in the second round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met. (Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.