On a day when baseball and family intertwine more than any other, Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle will take the mound at Fenway Park with more than just a game plan—he'll carry his mother's spirit with every pitch.
Sunday's Mother's Day start carries profound meaning for the 23-year-old left-hander, who will honor his late mother, Jina, with a simple yet powerful gesture. Before he toes the rubber, Tolle will raise his hand and flash the American Sign Language symbol for "I love you"—thumb, index finger, and pinkie extended—a tribute that has become his signature.
The timing is no coincidence. Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Jina's passing after a long battle with cancer. On that emotional day, Tolle posted a photo on Instagram of his mother in a hospital gown, making the same hand sign, accompanied by the emoji of that three-finger symbol and Dante Bowe's song "Joyful."
"She was just always so much fun," Tolle recalled in an interview last year. "She was funny. There were so many different ways that she lit up the room. She was just a badass."
Jina's positivity was legendary among those who knew her. Even during chemotherapy, her spirit remained unshaken. "The only reason people knew she had cancer was because of her hair," Tolle said. "For a while, the chemo didn't take away her hair and people were like, 'There's no way she has cancer because of how positive she's being.' She was just a positive influence on everyone around her. I got to witness it first-hand."
Her words live on in the most personal way—inscribed on his baseball glove is her favorite saying: "You're so pretty." It's a reminder that follows him from the bullpen to the mound, a constant source of strength.
"The joy that she had, I try to keep with me, especially when it comes to baseball," Tolle shared recently. "She always said, 'Show people why you play, who you play for, and why you love it.' I just have so much joy playing this game. She helped me know it's OK to show that."
When Tolle made his major league debut at Fenway Park last August, he felt her presence in the stands. After the game, the bubbly lefty said he heard his mother "somewhere out there" in the crowd during the Red Sox's game against the Pirates.
Now, as he prepares for his fourth start of the season on this Mother's Day, Tolle carries that connection with him. "She was my best friend," he said simply.
On a day dedicated to celebrating mothers everywhere, one young pitcher will take the mound knowing his biggest fan is watching from the best seat in the house—and she'll be right there with him, every step of the way.