Boston Red Sox Get Rule 5 Draft Pick Noah Song Back From Philadelphia Phillies

Pitching prospect Noah Song has officially cleared waivers, returning him to the Boston Red Sox after seven months in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. WEEI's Rob Bradford was the first to report the move.

The Phillies took Song away from the Red Sox in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, poaching the team's former No. 6 prospect in the process. Song suffered a back injury in March, though, and he just recently wrapped up a one-month rehab assignment in Philadelphia's farm system.

Song was activated off of the 60-day injured list on July 29 and was immediately designated for assignment, since Philadelphia elected not to add him to its active 26-man roster.

According to Beyond the Monster's Chris Henrique, Song has been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

According to @bradfo, Noah Song has been returned to the Red Sox after being DFA’d by the Phillies and clearing waivers.

He’s finally back in the organization and has a chance to get his development back on track. pic.twitter.com/CKe4BXRL1s
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) August 4, 2023

Song was the Red Sox's fourth round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, although he was considered to be a first round talent at the time. Song was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, an All-American and a Golden Spikes Award finalist while he attended the United States Naval Academy, finishing his collegiate career with a 32-13 record, 2.72 ERA and a 1.044 WHIP.

As a result of his five-year service commitment to the US Navy, however, Song fell in the draft. The Red Sox eventually took a flier on Song and sent him to Low-A Lowell that summer.

Song posted a 1.06 ERA and 0.882 WHIP in seven starts that year, but he received orders to report to flight school the following June. It took nearly three years before Song's application for an early release would be accepted, barring him from continuing his baseball career through it all.

The Navy wound up granting Song his transfer from active duty to the reserves on Feb. 23, just in time for the righty to report to the Phillies' spring training. Song did not pitch in the Grapefruit League due to his back injury, and he posted a 7.36 ERA and 2.091 WHIP across 11.0 minor league innings during his rehab assignment this summer.

Before his time away from baseball and ensuing injury, Song's fastball topped out at 99 miles per hour.

Only time will tell if Song – now 26 years old – can be the next Roger Staubach or David Robinson, who both went on to Hall of Fame professional careers in the NFL and NBA after serving in the Navy.

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