Payton Tolle, even as a rookie, is becoming a rotation anchor for the Boston Red Sox

Encounter Payton Tolle in most any situation, and there’s a great chance you’ll come away with a smile and a few laughs. Few players have arrived in the majors with a more defined sense of self and unencumbered personality. The 23-year-old is Paul Bunyan mixed with Ron Swanson, a mustachioed gentle giant with an endearing goofy streak and a distinct appreciation for the joy of being a big-league ballplayer. His is an overtly optimistic view of everyday life, which he gained from his similarly radiant mother, Jina, who died in 2024 following a prolonged battle with colon cancer and remains…