Phillies Prospect Discharged From Navy; Reporting To Spring Training

Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Noah Song is set to report to spring training on Thursday, after being transferred by the Navy from active duty to selective reserves.

Song, who was previously a Red Sox prospect, was selected by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft last winter. Despite not pitching since 2019, due to his commitment to the United States Naval Academy, the Phillies recognized his potential and added him to their roster.

Thrilled to see Noah Song will report to @Phillies camp tomorrow, per @JeffPassan’s report. I have great memories of this interview with Noah from 2019, for @WBSC, about what it meant for him to serve the @USNavy and pitch for @USABaseball. 🇺🇸 @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/w85RyD8aYu

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 23, 2023

Song, who was considered a first-round talent in the 2019 MLB Draft, slipped to the fourth round due to his Navy commitment. He has only pitched 17 professional innings, and with his limited experience, he is expected to need time in the minor leagues before he is ready to contribute in the majors.

The Rule 5 draft rules require that Song stick with the Phillies for the entire season, or else he will be returned to the Red Sox.

However, his unique military situation makes it challenging for the Phillies to commit a roster spot to him. If he does make the team, he will likely be limited to lower-leverage relief situations.

Despite the challenges, the Phillies are optimistic about Song's potential, and his presence in spring training is sure to make for an interesting storyline.

For his minor-league career, spanning just seven starts, the twenty-five-year-old holds a strong 1.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, with 19 strikeouts over 17 innings.

Song will continue serving in the Navy while also being permitted to play professional baseball. Photo Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports