Payton Tolle will bring the pitcher’s view to Milwaukee when the 2026 World Series opens Friday night, joining Miguel Rojas and Ernie Clement as Major League Baseball’s player correspondents for the Brewers-Rays matchup.
The result
Tolle, the Red Sox’s breakout left-hander, has been assigned to World Series Media Day and Game 1 at Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Friday, with coverage on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One.
He will appear on MLB Network, contribute to MLB social channels and offer an active player’s perspective from inside the Series. Tolle arrives after a strong Boston season in which he posted nine wins, a 3.03 ERA, 148 2/3 innings and 171 strikeouts. His strikeout total was the most by a Red Sox pitcher age 23 or younger since Roger Clemens in 1986.
There will be a personal note in Tolle’s assignment as well. During Players’ Weekend, he wore “You’re So Pretty” on his glove in memory of his late mother, a tribute that drew widespread attention around the game.
Rojas will work alongside Tolle at Media Day and Game 1, handling Spanish-language coverage with MLB Español. The Venezuelan infielder is set to speak with leading players and coaches from both the Brewers and Rays.
The 2026 season closed the book on Rojas’ 13-year major league career. He finished with a .267 batting average and four home runs, while his reputation in the clubhouse remained a defining part of his resume. Rojas became one of only two players to win a major team-spirit honor three times, recognized for leadership, sportsmanship and commitment to teammates.
The rotation next
When the Series moves to Tropicana Field, Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement will take over the correspondent role for Games 3 and 4. Clement will produce behind-the-scenes material for MLB’s social platforms and cover the Fall Classic from a player’s angle.
Clement earned his first All-Star selection in 2026, starting at second base for the American League after carrying a batting average near .300 into July. His regular-season push followed a remarkable 2025 postseason, when he collected a record 30 hits.
The correspondent program began in 2021 as a way to put current players closer to the World Series coverage, with access for interviews and a chance to show more of the personalities around the championship round.
Previous groups have included Lawrence Butler, Junior Caminero and Vinnie Pasquantino in 2025; Ozzie Albies, Luis Arráez and Brent Rooker in 2024; Mookie Betts and Willy Adames in 2023; Triston McKenzie in 2022; and Brett Phillips in the program’s first year.
