The Philadelphia Phillies have made a significant decision regarding right-hander Noah Song. The team announced on Saturday that they have reinstated Song from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment. This move comes after the Phillies had until Saturday to activate Song from his minor-league rehab assignment and either add him to their active roster or trade him.
Song’s journey to the majors has been a unique one, as he has been attempting to reach the big leagues after four years without baseball while serving in the Navy. The 26-year-old pitcher has been working hard to get back into pitching shape, and the Phillies were unsure of what to expect from him. Song suffered a lower back strain during spring training, which delayed his appearance in a minor-league game until June 28.
In his third outing on July 4 at Low-A Clearwater, Song showed promise by striking out four batters and reaching 96 mph with his fastball. The Phillies were optimistic about his potential and believed that his stuff could continue to improve over time. However, once Song pitched at Double-A and Triple-A, his fastball consistently sat in the low 90s, and he struggled with throwing strikes.
Despite seeing some potential in Song, the Phillies, who are currently contending, decided that the short-term risk of adding him to their bullpen outweighed the potential long-term upside. They made the difficult decision to designate him for assignment.
Regardless of how Song didn’t fit into the Phillies’ plans, it’s worth noting the progress he showed in just 30 days of game action. Another club may be more willing to take a chance on him and add him to their active big-league roster. The Phillies have invested over $450,000 in Song’s development, including the fee paid to the Boston Red Sox to acquire his rights.
If there is no significant trade interest in Song, the Phillies will place him on waivers. If another team claims him, they must add him to their active big-league roster. To satisfy the Rule 5 requirements, Song must spend 90 days on an active roster, meaning he would have to begin the 2024 season in the majors if claimed.
However, it is a high bar for any club to carry a player like Song who has missed a significant amount of time. It’s the reason why the Red Sox left him exposed in the first place. If Song clears waivers, he would be offered back to the Red Sox, and if they accept, they will pay the Phillies $50,000.
For the Red Sox, Song’s return could be a boost for their organization. They have always seen his time with the Phillies as awkward and unusual. He would instantly become a high-upside prospect, and the Red Sox would have to think twice before leaving him exposed to the Rule 5 draft again in the future.
Before serving in the Navy, Song was considered one of the top collegiate pitchers in the nation. He fell to the fourth round of the 2019 MLB amateur draft because teams were concerned about his potential service commitments. The Department of Defense denied Song’s waiver request to delay his service requirements that year.
The Red Sox selected Song in the draft but left him unprotected before the Rule 5 draft in 2022 due to his uncertain status. However, former Boston executive Dave Dombrowski surprised everyone by taking Song for a $100,000 fee. The Phillies then placed him on the military list.
In February, Song was approved to move from active duty to the select reserves, allowing him to join the Phillies at spring training. He has spent time with the club’s Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A affiliates this season.
Song’s most recent outing for Triple-A Lehigh Valley did not go as planned. He could not complete two innings, giving up a home run to the first batter he faced and walking three others. His fastball averaged 92 mph and topped out at 93 mph. He was charged with five runs, bringing his ERA to 7.36 after appearing in eight minor-league games this season.
As Song’s future with the Phillies remains uncertain, it will be interesting to see if another team takes a chance on him or if he ends up back in the Red Sox organization. Only time will tell how this unique story unfolds.
(Photo: Chris Carlson / AP Images)