When Payton Tolle toes the rubber for the Boston Red Sox against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday night, he's going to have an encouraging voice in his head. That is, until the voice isn't so encouraging anymore.

But even when the cheering turns to lovable criticism, it's going to put the 22-year-old left-hander in the right frame of mind.

The voice Tolle hears is that of his late mother, Jina, who died last May after battling cancer. Jine was initially told she only had a few months to live after being diagnosed. That was eight years before she passed away in May of 2024.

She was always Payton's biggest fan, and always made sure he went into every game with a grateful mindset.

"She was my best friend and I still talk to her quite a bit. For her to go through that with the mindset she h

See Full Page