Noah Song

Noah Benjamin Song (born May 28, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, and a United States Naval Officer. Song played college baseball for the Navy Midshipmen, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2019. That season, he led NCAA Division I baseball in strikeouts, and in strikeouts-per-nine-innings. His fastball has been measured at 99 miles per hour (159 km/h).[1] Song was drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. In December 2019, the Navy rejected his appeal to become a reservist, which he requested in order to pursue his baseball career. Song is expected to spend two years in flight school,[2] unless he is granted a waiver or early release.

Noah Song
Boston Red Sox
Pitcher
Born: (1997-05-28) May 28, 1997
Pomona, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Baseball career

Amateur baseball

Song graduated from Claremont High School in Claremont, California, in 2015.[3] Playing baseball for the high school team, in 2015 he received a Perfect Game All-California honorable mention and was named to the All-Sierra League second team.[4][5]

Undrafted out of high school, Song attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he earned an engineering degree.[6] In his freshman season of 2016, initially throwing in the mid-80s, Song produced a 9–3 record with a 2.75 ERA and 57 strikeouts over ​75 1⁄3 innings.[7][8] He was named the Patriot League rookie of the year and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.[7]

In his sophomore season in 2017, he went 6–4 with a 3.67 ERA and 89 strikeouts over 76 innings.[8] During the summer of 2017, Song played in the Cape Cod League for the Harwich Mariners.[9] In his junior season of 2018, Song produced a 6–5 record with a 1.92 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 89 innings.[10] Song once again played in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2018, this time for the Orleans Firebirds.[9]

In his senior season of 2019, by which time his fastball velocity had increased to 95–97 mph and he added a 82–86 mph slider, Song produced an 11–1 record with a 1.44 ERA and 161 strikeouts (a new Navy record) over 94 innings.[8][7][11] His 161 strikeouts was 3rd in NCAA Division I baseball in 2019,[12] as did his strikeouts-per-nine-innings mark of 15.41 (the best in NCAA Division I since 2009, and 6th-best all-time in Division I history).[13][14]

In his Navy career, he set school records for career wins (32), strikeouts (428), and innings pitched (334.1), and tied for the most shutouts in school history (9).[15] During his time with Navy, Song won numerous awards and distinctions. He was a finalist for the 2019 Golden Spikes Award and 2019 Dick Howser Trophy.[3] He was named the 2019 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year.[16][3] He was named a 2019 First Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America, Perfect Game, NCBWA, D1Baseball, ABCA, and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.[17]

Song was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round, with the 137th overall selection, of the 2019 MLB draft.[18] He became the highest selected MLB draft pick in Naval Academy history, and the ninth Navy graduate picked in the MLB draft (two of whom have reached the MLB; Nemo Gaines and Mitch Harris).[6][7][19][13] On June 6, 2019, Song signed with Boston.[20][21]

Professional baseball

Song spent his professional debut season of 2019 with the Lowell Spinners of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League, going 0–0 with a 1.06 ERA, a .167 batting average against, an 0.88 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts over 17 innings.[8][22][23]

International baseball

On October 10, 2019, he was selected for the United States national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12.[24][25] In the tournament, his pitches were measured as fast as 99 miles per hour (159 km/h).[26] He was 0–0 with a 0.0 ERA in five relief appearances covering ​5 1⁄3 innings, during which he gave up one hit and struck out six batters.[27]

Song was originally accepted to the Navy pilot program in college, but had to change after being deemed too tall at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) to operate planes and helicopters in the field.[18] His job path was then changed to a Naval flight officer and flight mission commander, serving on helicopters.[13][7] Song was originally scheduled to report to Naval Air Station Pensacola on November 1, 2019, to start training as a naval flight officer and begin his five-year commitment to serve, until he was selected to play for the United States national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier 12 tournament during November 2–17.[28][24] After the tournament, he was scheduled to report to flight school in Pensacola in December 2019.[29]

In December 2019, Admiral Robert P. Burke, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, denied Song’s petition to delay his active service time, requiring Song to attend flight school and delay his professional baseball career.[30][31] Basketball player David Robinson, the first overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA in 1987, served in the Navy for two years before embarking on his Basketball Hall of Fame career.[32] Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, along with Defense Secretary Mark Esper, could grant Song a waiver—against Admiral Burke's recommendation—but a Navy spokesperson said that no final decision had been made.[33]

In June 2020, it was reported that Song had received orders to report to flight school in Pensacola by June 26.[34] Song would be able to apply for early release from his training in May 2021.[34]

Personal life

Song's father, Bill, immigrated to the United States from South Korea at the age of five.[35] Bill has been a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he is a commander, since 1991.[36][37][7] Song's mother, Stacy, is a special education instructional assistant.[7][11] 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).[11]

References
  1. @Premier12 (November 15, 2019). "159kph/99mph" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. "Navy rejects Red Sox minor-league pitcher Noah Song's request to play pro baseball". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. Steven Felschundneff (May 23, 2019). "Former CHS baseball player has huge career at Navy". Claremont Courier. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  4. "After 2 weeks with Firebirds, Noah Song will take talents to greater heights | Orleans Firebirds". Orleansfirebirds.pointstreaksites.com. June 21, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  5. "2016 Baseball Guide by Naval Academy Athletic Association". Issuu. March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  6. Wagner, Bill (June 4, 2019). "Navy's Noah Song taken in fourth round by Boston Red Sox". The Capital. Annapolis, Maryland.
  8. "Noah Song Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  9. Joe Catapano (June 21, 2018). "After 2 weeks with Firebirds, Noah Song will take talents to greater heights". Orleans Firebirds. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  10. Wagner, Bill (June 6, 2018). "Song headed back to Navy after not being taken in top two rounds of MLB Draft". The Capital. Annapolis, Maryland. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  12. "NCAA College Baseball DI current individual Stats". NCAA.com. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  13. Ava Wallace (June 4, 2019). "Red Sox pick Navy's Noah Song No. 137 in MLB draft, academy's highest selection". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  14. "Former CHS pitcher Noah Song drafted by Red Sox". Claremont-courier.com. June 6, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  15. "Former CHS baseball player has huge career at Navy". Claremont Courier. May 23, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  16. Navy Athletics Communications (May 30, 2019). "Navy's Noah Song Selected as a Finalist for the Golden Spikes Award". Patriot League. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  17. "Noah Song". Navy Midshipmen baseball. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  18. Ian Browne (June 4, 2019). "Red Sox select Song from Naval Academy". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  19. Laura Murgatroyd (June 4, 2019). "Navy grad makes MLB history". Navy Times. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  20. Paul Harris (June 6, 2019). "Red Sox sign Naval Academy grad Song". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  21. Christopher Smith (June 6, 2019). "Boston Red Sox sign Noah Song, fourth round pick and righty out of United States Naval Academy". MassLive. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  22. Mark Singelais (June 6, 2019). "Red Sox prospect embraces military commitment". Times Union. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  23. Rob Bradford (August 26, 2019). "The curious case of top Red Sox prospect Noah Song". WEEI. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  24. "USA Baseball Names Premier12 Roster". USA Baseball. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  25. "Baseball Alum Noah Song Named to USA Baseball's Premier12 Roster". Navy Midshipmen baseball. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  26. Cole, Mike. "Red Sox Prospect Noah Song Dominates Again In Team USA Win Over Chinese Taipei | Boston Red Sox". NESN.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  27. https://premier12.wbsc.org/en/2019/team-stats/USA/pitching
  28. Speier, Alex (June 5, 2019). "Red Sox draft pick Noah Song's path to Fenway complicated". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  29. Bradford, Rob (November 15, 2019). "Red Sox pitching prospect Noah Song making impression". WEEI.radio.com. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  30. Smith, Christopher (November 14, 2019). "Boston Red Sox prospect Noah Song touches 98 mph in WBSC Premier 12 tournament". MassLive.com.
  31. McWilliams, Julian (December 12, 2019). "Song update". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  32. "(Premier12) U.S. pitcher says he was raised 'the right way' by S. Korean father | Yonhap News Agency". En.yna.co.kr. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  33. Lee, Joon (December 18, 2019). "Navy likely puts Red Sox draftee Noah Song's baseball career on hold". ESPN.com.
  34. Cotillo, Chris (June 17, 2020). "Noah Song, Boston Red Sox prospect, will report to flight school and delay baseball career by at least a year (report)". MassLive.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  35. Joon Lee (June 12, 2019). "Navy draft pick embraces double challenge: Duty first, Red Sox soon". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  36. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. "BILL SONG, Captain" (PDF). lasdnews.net. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  37. Mary O’Keefe (March 16, 2017). "The Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station prepares for a new captain". Crescenta Valley Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
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