Published on Mar. 10, 2026
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle recently tried to bring some extra star power to the team’s games by reaching out to various celebrities on social media, inviting them to attend. While most of his attempts didn’t get any response, one celebrity – competitive eater Joey Chestnut – did reply and expressed interest in attending a game.
Why it matters
This story provides a lighthearted look at the human side of professional baseball players, showing that even young athletes like Tolle are just regular people who want to enjoy the game and have fun. Chestnut’s willingness to engage with Tolle’s invitation also demonstrates the potential for unique fan experiences and interactions between athletes and celebrities.
The details
Tolle said he directly messaged a number of celebrities, including wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., and wrestler-turned-actor John Cena, but most did not respond. However, competitive eater Joey Chestnut was the first person Tolle reached out to, and Chestnut responded that same night, expressing interest in attending a Red Sox game.
Tolle reached out to the celebrities in recent weeks.
The players
Payton Tolle
A young pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who tried to invite celebrities to the team’s games.
Joey Chestnut
A competitive eater who responded positively to Tolle’s invitation to attend a Red Sox game.
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What they’re saying
“He was actually the first person that I did reach out to, and he responded that night. So I was like, well this is easy. Let’s see who else we can get. So I DM’ed Stone Cold Steve Austin, Dale Earnhardt Jr.. John Cena was in there. But those guys are just kind of turned off.”
— Payton Tolle, Red Sox Pitcher (NESN)
What’s next
It’s unclear if Joey Chestnut will actually attend a Red Sox game in the near future, but Tolle’s outreach efforts have generated some positive buzz around the team.
The takeaway
This story shows that even professional athletes like Payton Tolle are just regular people who want to have fun and enjoy the game they love. Tolle’s lighthearted attempts to bring celebrities to Red Sox games demonstrate the human side of baseball, and Joey Chestnut’s positive response highlights the potential for unique fan experiences in the sport.