Noah Song (RHP) and his Harmonious Life

[Sin Duda]

As you may recall, Noah Song graduated from Annapolis in 2019 after leading Navy with an 11-1 record, 1.44 ERA, and 161 strikeouts in 94 innings, which earned him First Team All-American status and a spot at the Finalists table for the Golden Spikes Award. Due to his 2-year naval commitment, the Red Sox took a flier on him by selecting Noah in the 4th round of the 2019 draft. He is a tall (6'4"), sturdy (200 pounds) righthander that Sox Prospects believes has mid-rotation starter potential. Searching for a little contemporary news, I found a Tomase article from Nov'21 that gave a decent update and a timeline of "sometime in 2022". I had forgotten that he has already pitched in the Red Sox system; Mr. Song, who grew up in Claremont CA (an L.A. suburb), made his debut with the Lowell Spinners in 2019, struck out 19 in 17 innings and pitched to a 1.09 ERA. That fall, Noah pitched for the U.S. in the Premier12 tournament against high-level competition, showing off a 99 mph fastball. He allowing no earned runs, 1 hit, and struck out 6 in 5 relief appearances (5.1 innings). He turns 25 May, 2022 and his two-year commitment ends June, 2022.

 

[jon abbey]

Fangraphs put him on their list today of guys who could be top 100 prospects next year:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/picks-to-click-who-we-expect-to-make-the-2023-top-100/

 

[Sin Duda]

Huh, I guess I was quite timely then. But I don't see him rising quite that fast. Best case, he pitches 40-50 innings in MiLB this year.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Thanks for the update! I was particularly looking forward to his return as he's half-Korean:

"Song's father, Bill, immigrated to the United States from South Korea at the age of five.[37] Bill has been a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he is a commander, since 1991.[38][39][7] Song's mother, Stacy, is a special education instructional assistant.[7][13] Song has three siblings; Faith (a nurse), Daniel (a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles County), and Elijah (on his way to becoming a Marine pilot).[13]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Song

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

I’m not asking for much. But given the hassle and delays, I just want Song’s career to be better than David Robinson’s.

 

[GB5]

I know it seems that there has been nothing but silence for a few years, but has Song given any indication in the last few years that he intends on resuming his baseball career?

 

[JimD]

I know it seems that there has been nothing but silence for a few years, but has Song given any indication in the last few years that he intends on resuming his baseball career?

I may be mistaken but I thought I had read or heard on a podcast that Song is flying helicopters or something else less glamorous than a fighter jet. If that is the case, I could see a potential MLB career being pretty attractive to him.

 

[Sin Duda]

Yes, he is a helicopter pilot.

I’m not asking for much. But given the hassle and delays, I just want Song’s career to be better than David Robinson’s.

So between Staubach and Robinson? Seems reasonable.

 

[edoug]

NBA Hall of Famer
10x All Star
1993-94 Scoring Champ
1990-91 TRB Champ
1991-92 BLK Champ
2x NBA Champ
10x All-NBA
8x All-Defensive
1989-90 All-Rookie
1989-90 ROY
1991-92 Def. POY
1994-95 MVP
NBA 75th Anniv. Team
if he is anything comparable to that, in a Sox uniform, I'd be okay with that.

 

[billy ashley]

I may be mistaken but I thought I had read or heard on a podcast that Song is flying helicopters or something else less glamorous than a fighter jet. If that is the case, I could see a potential MLB career being pretty attractive to him.

His intention was always to work on rotorcraft. The issue was given his height, he'd not be a pilot. He could still have a very meaningful career in the Navy but I believe that was his first goal, to be a navy helicopter pilot.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Went to a game a while back to see him pitch. Really hoping we get to see him in Boston one day

 

[Sin Duda]

I'm not a tweeter (or a woofer). Anyone follow him? Can you ask him his plans for this summer? An inquiring Nation wants to know.

 

[Sin Duda]

From Fangraphs' Red Sox Prospects writeup: Any successful evaluation of prospects is based on a historical understanding of other prospects. Here is what this player looks like right now in terms of age, tools, and skills, and here’s what players who look like that tend to project as. That essential rubric is impossible to apply to Song, who had first-round talent but fell to the fourth round of the 2019 draft due to a naval service commitment of imprecisely-determined length. Ignoring that for a moment, Song is certainly an interesting power arm. He touched 99 mph for Team USA during his draft year and features a pair of plus breaking balls with a hard, darting slider and a slow but very deep curveball. His changeup will need development as a pro, as will his command; while he generally throws strikes, he fills the box far more than he locates his pitches. Instead of throwing bullpens, Song, who turns 25 in May, is in flight school, and while there are reasons to believe he could resume his baseball career as early as this summer, nothing is set in stone as of list publication. The stuff and ability to pitch in the big leagues is there, but we just don’t know enough about Song’s availability to do so.

Fastball	Slider	Curveball	Changeup	Command	Sits/Tops
55/60	50/55	50/55	40/45	40/50	93-95 / 99

Age: 24.8, Height: 6′ 4″, Weight: 200, Throws: R, Future Value: 40+

 

[nvalvo]

View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1524915516044869632

 

[OnTheBlack]

Must be a tough decision for the guy. Being a pro baseball player is very cool, but being a naval aviator might be the one profession that’s even more cool. Maybe I watched too much top gun as a kid but giving up that kind of military career for a shot at the show when you’re behind the eight ball age wise isn’t a homerun decision.

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

Must be a tough decision for the guy. Being a pro baseball player is very cool, but being a naval aviator might be the one profession that’s even more cool. Maybe I watched too much top gun as a kid but giving up that kind of military career for a shot at the show when you’re behind the eight ball age wise isn’t a homerun decision.

I mean, if you’re any good, you go the Ted route!

 

[sezwho]

I mean, if you’re any good, you go the Ted route!

Ha! I was fortunate to spend a couple years supporting Top Gun (technology stuff, nothing cool like flying) and it’s an astonishing collection of people and toys…but they aren’t ending up millionaires

Its a tough choice for sure, and I get the age stuff OTB mentioned, but it seems one you kinda can’t lose too.

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

Must be a tough decision for the guy. Being a pro baseball player is very cool, but being a naval aviator might be the one profession that’s even more cool. Maybe I watched too much top gun as a kid but giving up that kind of military career for a shot at the show when you’re behind the eight ball age wise isn’t a homerun decision.

He has time. I heard Pete Mitchell is still flying and he's older than Wilfred Brimley in Cocoon.

 

[chrisfont9]

He's 24, maybe by 26 or 27 he knows if the baseball option is viable, and if not, I'd assume he can reapply to the Navy again?

 

[BaseballJones]

Must be a tough decision for the guy. Being a pro baseball player is very cool, but being a naval aviator might be the one profession that’s even more cool. Maybe I watched too much top gun as a kid but giving up that kind of military career for a shot at the show when you’re behind the eight ball age wise isn’t a homerun decision.

Oh naval aviator is about as cool as jobs get.

 

[MonstahsInLeft]

Oh naval aviator is about as cool as jobs get.

Not that the general public knows the difference but FYI officially naval aviator = pilot. Song is training to be a naval flight officer (ie NFO, “backseater”, “Goose”). Still quite fun and glamorous to be sure

And yes he’s got plenty of good years of flying ahead of him so some time in the Reserves to take a shot at a legit MLB career won’t hurt him there. I hope that he can get the waiver, both for his sake AND the Sox!

 

[BaseballJones]

I get the distinction. My dad was a naval aviator, flying the F-8 crusader off the USS Hancock in Vietnam. Recently he and I were at TOPGUN where he got to give a speech to the graduating class. Got to hang out with the servicemen and women and see the jets up close. Pretty fun experience for me!

 

[MonstahsInLeft]

I get the distinction. My dad was a naval aviator, flying the F-8 crusader off the USS Hancock in Vietnam. Recently he and I were at TOPGUN where he got to give a speech to the graduating class. Got to hang out with the servicemen and women and see the jets up close. Pretty fun experience for me!

Fantastic! My dad was an AF pilot so I grew up knowing my military aircraft like I knew my dinosaurs. Probably a big reason I became a Navy Flight Doc.

Like Noah I have to admit I like helos better though. Flying low level in the back of a chopper with the doors open is about as good as it gets!

 

[steveluck7]

Per Scott Lauber.
Song has been discharged from the Navy and will be reporting to Phillies camp

Noah Song has been discharged from his Naval service commitment and will report to the #Phillies’ camp Thursday. The Phillies chose Song in the Rule 5 draft.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I look forward to rooting for this kid with Philly.

 

[scottyno]

I look forward to rooting for this kid with Philly.

You can root for him back in Boston, because the chances of him staying on the phillies major league roster all year when he's never pitched above low A and hasn't pitched at all in 3+ years are pretty slim

 

[santadevil]

You can root for him back in Boston, because the chances of him staying on the phillies major league roster all year when he's never pitched above low A and hasn't pitched at all in 3+ years are pretty slim

God I hope so
I've been very intrigued by him since the rest of SoSH was very high on his drafting
I'd love to see him succeed for the Red Sox

 

[EvilEmpire]

You can root for him back in Boston, because the chances of him staying on the phillies major league roster all year when he's never pitched above low A and hasn't pitched at all in 3+ years are pretty slim

Clearly, that is more likely to happen than him staying with Philly. But of course I'll being rooting for the Navy kid to stick with Philly or another team.

If he goes back to Boston, fuck him.

 

[Remagellan]

Clearly, that is more likely to happen than him staying with Philly. But of course I'll being rooting for the Navy kid to stick with Philly or another team.

If he goes back to Boston, fuck him.

Wait, weren't you an Army guy? So you'll root for a Navy guy, but not a Red Sox? Well, I guess I understand....and best of fuck to your team this season.

 

[cahlton]

Song throwing one pitch in a bullpen session, FWIW
View: https://twitter.com/michael_schlact/status/1630973989236375565

 

[Benj4ever]

Clearly, that is more likely to happen than him staying with Philly. But of course I'll being rooting for the Navy kid to stick with Philly or another team.

If he goes back to Boston, fuck him.

Evil? Yes! Empire...not so much...more like a slum.

 

[Sin Duda]

Our prodigal son has returned to us, after a misguided attempt to find fame and fortune in our nation's capital. Welcome back, Noah! Since you're sure to be assigned to a Red Sox minor league affiliate to continue your recovery from a long absence from professional baseball, I'm guessing you'll arrive in Salem or Greenville any day now. Or maybe in Ft. Myers, where they'll assess your readiness for one of the other affiliates.

 

[simplicio]

Our prodigal son has returned to us, after a misguided attempt to find fame and fortune in our nation's capital.

Unless you're thinking of the 1790s, you might be mixing him up with Thad Ward. Noah was in Philly.

And he's now in Woostah, which is a surprise to me, I had him pegged for Greenville too.

 

[Sin Duda]

Unless you're thinking of the 1790s, you might be mixing him up with Thad Ward. Noah was in Philly.

And he's now in Woostah, which is a surprise to me, I had him pegged for Greenville too.

I *was* mixing him up with Thad, who I had looked up earlier in the day. But your 1790s reference is cool (and funny). As a kid, I lived near Philly, so it was a source of pride that it had once been the US capital.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Unless you're thinking of the 1790s, you might be mixing him up with Thad Ward. Noah was in Philly.

And he's now in Woostah, which is a surprise to me, I had him pegged for Greenville too.

Worcester was a technical assignment, only.

 

[findguapo]

Is Song in MLB camp? I searched social media and google news and didnt find anything about him in 2024.

 

[pinkhatfan]

Is Song in MLB camp? I searched social media and google news and didnt find anything about him in 2024.

Looks like he's on the Greenville roster: https://www.milb.com/greenville/roster

 

[JM3]

Looks like he's on the Greenville roster: https://www.milb.com/greenville/roster

That's just the players still in the org from last year's final roster plus Sandlin & Adams.

Most projections I've seen have Song starting the season in Portland, but I haven't heard any updates.

 

[pinkhatfan]

That's just the players still in the org from last year's final roster plus Sandlin & Adams.

Most projections I've seen have Song starting the season in Portland, but I haven't heard any updates.

Ah, ok. I thought the list was current since since Sandlin is on it.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Latest I could find is the Bradford tweet below from November: "Noah Song is finishing up his military commitments this offseason but will be ready to go for early spring training in January "

View: https://twitter.com/bradfo/status/1724794030813487269

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Paging @JM3 ! JM3, please pick up the red courtesy phone.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Look 3 posts back of yours.

 

[sittingstill]

MILB players usually report (officially) in waves in early March. Certainly possible that he was there early, but in my experience things don't get going with the minor leaguers until about a week after the MLB games start. If he's there already it's more likely that he's doing conditioning/strength stuff, not really pitching.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Look 3 posts back of yours.

Frickin precog he is

 

[simplicio]

Lots of stuff here: https://theathletic.com/5301304/2024/02/26/noah-song-red-sox-spring-2024?source=user-shared-article

Where he begins this season for the Red Sox is still to be determined, but he’s being stretched out for multiple innings and vying for a spot in Double A or Triple A. Diminished velocity, adding strength and physicality as well as an overall need for pitch development are his biggest hurdles to overcome at the moment

 

[JM3]

View: https://twitter.com/IanCundall/status/1762619790470824102

 

[simplicio]

Improved velocity is nice, but 24 pitches, 8 strikes, no swings on anything outside the zone. There's a long way to go still.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

From the ML ominbus thread, Noah needs TJ surgery

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-noah-song-needs-tommy-john-surgery/

 

[jon abbey]

Ugh, poor guy.

View: https://twitter.com/spchrishatfield/status/1773058078725767196?s=46&t=0GHHaPVUX26Io0V2HIcS0g