MLB Twitter reacts to Rule 5 draft pick Noah Song being discharged from Navy to pitch for Philadelphia Phillies: "Kid can be nasty"

One-time MLB prospect Noah Song will get a chance to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies this spring after being discharged from the United States Navy.

Song, a 25-year-old pitcher, was selected by the Phillies as a Rule 5 draft pick from the Boston Red Sox in December, a choice that cost Philadelphia $100,000. The 25-year-old fourth-round selection of the Red Sox in the 2019 draft. He has not thrown competitively since pitching in Class A in 2019.

He attended the United States Naval Academy before being drafted by the Red Sox, but still had his military commitment to fulfill after a release waiver was denied by the Department of Defense.

Noah Song will report to Philadelphia Phillies' spring training camp on Thursday, but he can remain on the "military list" until opening day.

However, as a Rule 5 draft choice, he must be added to the big league roster as of the start of the season and remain on the active roster through 2023, or else be placed on waivers.

If he clears waivers at that point, he must then be offered back to the Red Sox for $50,000. Only if Boston then passes, could Song be sent to the Phillies' minor leagues.

It's a gamble for the Philadelphia Phillies, but Noah Song was stunning in his brief minor league tenure. He made seven starts for Lowell, a Red Sox farm club at the "Low-A" level. He posted a 1.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings.

Before that, he went 11-1 with a 1.44 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 161 strikeouts over 94 innings as a senior at the Naval Academy.

Fans from around MLB are interested to see if Noah Song works out with the Philadelphia Phillies.

As if Red Sox fans need any more reason to be frustrated with their club ... what if Song becomes a star with the Phillies?

Noah Song a good risk for Philadelphia Phillies

Manager Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during batting practice.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson will get a good look at Song during spring training. Scouting reports from his time at Lowell note that Song had a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s with what was described as a "wipeout, MLB-ready slider."

Scouts note that if not for Song's required military service, he likely would have been drafted much higher than the fourth round.