Could WBSC Premier12 fireballer Noah Song return to baseball?

Right-handed pitcher Noah Song, 25, transferred his status with the Navy from "active duty" to "selected reserves" a move which means he can now resume his baseball career, according to a ESPN report..

Song pitched his last game during the WBSC Premier12 2019. He appeared in five games for the United States, including the bronze medal game against Mexico, without allowing a run. Song also recorded the fastest pitch in the tournament.

A Naval Academy graduate, Song was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He signed for a US$100,000 bonus and made his professional debut pitching parts of seven games for the Class A Lowell Spinners.

After the Premier12, he submitted a waiver request to transfer his commission to the Navy Reserve.

"Ensign Noah Song is prohibited from being released from his active duty service obligation in order to play professional baseball by law and policy," Commander Alana Garas stated on behalf of the Navy, "in accordance with Title 10, Section 8459."

The Title quoted by Commander Garas states that "midshipmen may not be released from their commissioned service obligation to obtain employment as a professional athlete following graduation until they complete a period of at least two consecutive years of commissioned service."

The Philadelphia Phillies took Song from the Red Sox in December's Rule 5 Draft. They can keep him if he stays on their 26-man roster for the entire 2023 season.

If he doesn't make the MLB roster out of Spring Training Camp, the Phillies can trade him or place him on waivers. The team that eventually claimed him would need to put him on the MLB roster.

Were Song to go unclaimed, he could return to the Red Sox and start over from the minor leagues.