CLEARWATER, Fla. — Noah Song threw and performed agility drills on a back outfield wearing Philadelphia Phillies shorts and T-shirt, a far different different uniform for the 25-year old.
Song had been a flight officer training on a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft before transferring from active duty to reserves.
“I think really the most important thing is just recognizing the fact that I really enjoy both,” Song said Thursday while sitting on top of a picnic table just beyond the left-field fence at Phillies spring training camp. “If there's nothing else to do other than the military, this is where I want to be. I'm feel really blessed and really lucky that I haven't had to do anything that I don't want to do yet.”
Song impressed in his only pro season, making seven starts for Boston's Class A Lowell affiliate in 2019, striking out 19 in 17 innings with a 1.06 ERA. With a fastball in the upper 90s mph, he went 11-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 94 innings during his senior year at Navy.
Song, who is from California, was taken by the Phillies from Boston in the winter meeting draft for unprotected minor league players in December with hopes he would play after military service.
“We feel it's worth the gamble,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “We felt it was worth the upside risk. Will be able to do it? We'll see.”
The 6-foot-4,…
