Noah Song set to report to Phillies after Navy service change

Right-hander Noah Song plans to report to Philadelphia Phillies spring-training camp Thursday in hopes of making the team’s Opening Day roster after he transferred his status with the Navy from active duty to selected reserves.

Song, 25, was taken by Philadelphia in December’s Rule 5 draft from the Boston Red Sox. He last pitched in 2019, when he posted a 1.06 ERA in 17 Low-A innings after the Red Sox drafted him in the fourth round out of the Naval Academy and signed him for $100,000.

Song was denied a waiver by the Department of Defense to forgo his military obligation and had served on active duty since. His move to the selected reserves, which calls for one weekend of service a month and two weeks a year, allows him to resume his baseball career.

To keep Song, the Phillies must place him on the active 26-man roster for the entire season—a difficult path with Philadelphia coming off a World Series appearance and boasting a deep bullpen. Song’s upside still was clear from his dominance in college and his short minor league career.