The Noah Song saga has come to an end as the 26-year-old right-hander is back in the Red Sox system. After being designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier in the week, the Red Sox were able to reacquire him on Friday. This move was made possible because the deadline for teams to claim Song had passed, and the Red Sox promptly reacquired him for a $50,000 fee as part of the Rule 5 draft rules.
Noah Song was the Red Sox’s fourth-round draft pick in 2019 and holds the distinction of being the highest draft pick in Naval Academy history. He was considered one of the more promising pitching prospects in the system but had missed four years of development while serving in the U.S. Navy. The Red Sox left Song unprotected in the Rule 5 draft in December, knowing he had not pitched professionally since 2019. However, the Phillies took a gamble and selected him in the Rule 5 Draft.
Song had applied for a transfer from active duty to the select reserves in early 2022 and was approved in February. He joined the Phillies shortly thereafter in spring training but was placed on the 60-day injured list with a lower back strain a few weeks later. According to Rule 5 draft rules, the Phillies needed to keep Song on their active 26-man roster (unless on the injury list) for 90 days or release him.
Song first appeared in a minor-league rehab game on June 28 and began working his way through the minors this summer in an attempt to stick on the Phillies’ big-league roster. However, with the Phillies in contention for the postseason, it became clear that they wouldn’t be able to keep the still-developing pitcher on their active roster. As a result, Song was designated for assignment.
Now, Song is back with the Red Sox and pitching in their system for the first time since the summer of 2019 when he debuted with the now-defunct short-season Lowell Spinners. During that summer, he posted an impressive 1.06 ERA with 19 strikeouts and five walks in 17 innings. The Red Sox are still determining at what level Song will start.
In his eight outings this summer for the Phillies’ Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A clubs, Song struggled with a 7.36 ERA, 11 walks, and 16 strikeouts over 11 innings. He mostly pitched one- to two-inning stints. While he showed promise in his third outing on July 4, striking out four batters and hitting 96 mph with his fastball, his velocity dipped as he reached higher levels of the minors, and his command also diminished.
However, getting Song back on a proper development track could be beneficial for the Red Sox. Despite being 26 years old, Song has shown promise in his rehab outings this summer. With a slower and more intentional development path, he could become an important piece for the team in the future.
Song earned his naval flight wings in Pensacola, Fla., in 2022, and as part of the reserves, he must serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year for the next 12 years. This commitment will undoubtedly complicate his potential big-league career, but the Red Sox are happy to have him back in the system regardless.
Looking ahead, Song will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft again this winter. However, this time it seems likely that the Red Sox will protect him. With his talent and potential, they wouldn’t want to risk losing him again.
In conclusion, the Noah Song saga has taken another twist as he is now back in the Red Sox system. After being designated for assignment by the Phillies, the Red Sox reacquired him through the Rule 5 draft rules. Song’s return provides the Red Sox with another promising pitcher for their farm system, and with a slower development path, he could become an important asset for the team in the future.