THE APEX TIMES
Tracy was named a finalist for American League Manager of the Year, while Tolle is among the finalists for AL Rookie of the Year after leading Boston’s late-season surge.
The Red Sox will have representation at the BBWAA Awards as interim manager Chad Tracy and rookie starter Payton Tolle were each named finalists for major American League honors.
Tracy was one of three finalists for AL Manager of the Year. Kevin Cash (Rays) and Will Venable (White Sox) are the other two finalists. The winner will be announced on Nov. 10.
Tracy’s path to the award consideration began after he was promoted from his role as Triple-A Worcester manager on April 25 to become interim manager of Boston. The Red Sox were 10-17 under longtime manager Alex Cora when Tracy took over.
Under Tracy, Boston posted a 77-58 record for the rest of the season, including a run that transformed their standings picture. From June 24 to the start of the next stretch, the Red Sox moved from 14 games under.500 to a 32-5 surge that followed.
That turnaround included a 15-game winning streak that tied the team’s all-time record set by the 1946 pennant club. Boston also followed up later with a nine-game winning streak, part of the sustained momentum Tracy was credited with helping organize for a young core.
Tracy’s interim tag was removed on Sept. 22, when the organization extended him on a three-year deal with a club option for the 2030 season, per the team’s season-end reporting.
Tolle, meanwhile, was named a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year. Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle and Cleveland’s Parker Messick are the other finalists, with the award scheduled for Nov. 9.
Tolle opened the season at Triple-A, but was called up on April 23 to start against the Yankees at Fenway Park. In that debut, he struck out 11 in six innings, allowing one run on three hits.
Across 26 starts, Tolle logged 148 2/3 innings with a 3.03 ERA and 171 strikeouts against 40 walks. In all but four of those starts, he allowed three earned runs or fewer.
The rookie was also described as a popular presence in the clubhouse, with examples including his animated interactions with teammates on the field. Boston’s postseason ended in the Wild Card round with a sweep loss to the Yankees.
Even after Boston’s abbreviated run, the reporting noted Tolle’s larger-than-life personality resurfaced during the World Series when he served as an MLB correspondent.
Together, Tracy and Tolle give the Red Sox a chance at two of the night’s marquee AL awards as the franchise looks to build on an in-season turnaround that peaked in September.