Variety of Philadelphia Phillies baseball caps for sale. Nancy Rokos / Special to the Bucks County Courier Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

U.S. Naval Officer, Phillies prospect to join team Thursday

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/22/23

United States Naval Officer and Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Noah Song will be joining the team's camp on Thursday.

Due to the timing of Noah Song's Naval discharge, he's subject to usual Rule 5 draft stipulations, including staying on #Phillies' 26-man roster all season or being offered back to Red Sox. A lot to ask of someone who hasn't pitched since 2019 in A-ball. https://t.co/Ml6jg0PKZx
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) February 22, 2023

A point of clarification from the #Phillies on Noah Song: He wasn't "discharged" by the Navy, as the team previously stated. His services were transferred from active duty to selective reserves, which enables him to play professional baseball while still serving the country.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) February 22, 2023

Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that because Song is on MLB's military list, he will not be counted against Philadelphia's 40-man roster until Opening Day, which is March 30.

Song will be placed on the Phillies' 26-man roster if he makes the squad out of spring training, but if he doesn't he'll be traded or placed on waivers.

The 25-year-old righty graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2019 and led all NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts (161) and strikeouts per nine innings (15.41) that season. Song finished the campaign 11-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 0.91 WHIP as well.

After being selected in the fourth round of that year's MLB June Amateur Draft, he spent two years in flight school and completed his training in May 2022.

In his one season of minor league ball, Song went 0-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, while recording 19 strikeouts and five walks across 17 innings covering seven starts with the Class A Lowell Spinners.

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