Song’s pro plans are now up in the air

Former Navy baseball standout Noah Song has received his marching orders.

Song must report to flight school at Naval Air Station Pensacola no later than June 26. That decision, issued by the Department of Defense, puts Song’s dream of playing for the Boston Red Sox on hold for at least a year, if not longer.

In a letter sent to Song, a United States Navy official emphasized that becoming an aviator entails a six-year service commitment upon completing flight school and obtaining wings.

Song graduated from the Naval Academyand was commissioned as a naval flight officer on May 24, 2019. The right-handed pitcher was then selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2019 Major League draft on June 4.

Since he was on temporary assignment duty at the Naval Academy while awaiting orders to report to flight school, Song was allowed to spend two months playing minor league baseball last summer. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder was impressive while pitching for the Lowell Spinners, the organization’s affiliate in the shortseason New-York Penn League at the low

Class A level.

In October, Song submitted a waiver request to the Department of Defense seeking a transfer to the Navy Reserve so he could continue his professional baseball career during the 2020 season.

Around the same time, Song was granted permission to play for the United States national team in an Olympicqualifying tournament. According to many scouts, Song was the best pitcher on Team USA during the World BaseballSoftball Confederation Premier 12 Tour