Payton Tolle didn’t need much polishing.

The Red Sox are promoting the 2024 second-round pick for his MLB debut Friday in the middle of a pennant race, according to The Athletic.

Oh, and he’ll face perhaps MLB’s best starter in Paul Skenes at Fenway Park.

Tolle, 22, is MLB.com’s No. 28 prospect and has appeared in just 20 minor league games after being drafted with the No. 50 overall pick out of TCU.

He posted a 3.62 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) in Single-A, before notching a 1.67 ERA in six appearances (five starts) with Double-A.

Tolle started six games in Triple-A and went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA.

He’s struck out 133 batters in 91 2/3 innings, allowing just 68 hits, with a fastball that sits in the high-90s.

Tolle’s rise is close to that of Boston ace Garrett Crochet, who reached the majors in the same season after being drafted by the White Sox.

He appeared in just 12 games spanning Double-A and Triple-A before being promoted.

“He has a strong understanding of who he is and who he wants to become, along with a clear grasp of both his short and long-term goals,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham told MLB.com. “He’s also shown the vulnerability to make mistakes and learn from them. While the significant jump in velocity and performance has certainly been a factor, he has quickly shown us that we can believe in him as a person, and that he will continue to push himself to improve no matter the level.”

His promotion comes while Boston is attempting to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021 and in the AL East hunt and for the No. 1 seed in the American League.

The Red Sox (75-60) own the top wild card spot — a half-game ahead of the Yankees — and they sit just 3 1/2 games back of the Blue Jays in the AL East and for the top spot in the American League.