![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/53/1537631d-28a3-5baf-9669-b8dc06f970cc/63bf3beef205d.image.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080)
How does Cardinals Lars Nootbaar build on breakout '22? He could start with Team Japan
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/c_scale,w_400/v1/media/gmg/CXWISEG5RBBHDOOCEMN3I3NUOM.jpg?_a=AJFJtWIA)
Lars Nootbaar brings 'grind-it-out spirit' to Japan and WBC
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/t_16x9/t_w1024/mlb/fsgeautt4gb8lkvzu3ov)
Lars Nootbaar has his own ramen in Tokyo
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2NGDNT4/st-louis-cardinals-outfielder-lars-nootbaar-who-will-represent-japan-at-the-world-baseball-classic-championship-swings-a-bat-with-a-japanese-flag-and-cherry-blossoms-painted-on-it-during-spring-training-in-jupiter-florida-on-feb-17-2023-kyodo==kyodo-photo-via-newscom-credit-newscomalamy-live-news-2NGDNT4.jpg)
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who will represent Japan at the World Baseball Classic championship, swings a bat with a Japanese flag and cherry blossoms painted on it during spring training
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://p.potaufeu.asahi.com/7092-p/picture/27768497/30f78d509532ff94498383f96a1a654d.jpg)
Captain sparks Kagoshima team at Koshien, like idol Nootbaar
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://img.kyodonews.net/english/public/images/posts/31d38afce281417d1270ab4676ac119f/cropped_image_l.jpg)
Baseball: Cardinals' Nootbaar headed for Japan reunion of sorts
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://storage.googleapis.com/worldinsight-com/2023/06/0620_thumbnail_Momentous-Zoom-Meeting-with-Team-Japan-Skipper-Interview-with-Lars-Nootbaars-Parents-2.png)
Momentous Zoom Meeting with Team Japan Skipper: Interview with Lars Nootbaar's Parents (#2) - WORLD INSIGHT
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/03/21/multimedia/21wbc-final-ohtani-sub-fklc/21wbc-final-ohtani-sub-fklc-videoSixteenByNine3000-v2.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani and Japan Beat U.S. to Win World Baseball Classic - The New York Times
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lars-Nootbaar.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar Can't Understand Japanese Teammates
![Lars Nootbaar Japan national baseball team player - meet the outfielder](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_desktop/s3/2023-03/Lars%20Nootbar%20Japan%20032123.jpg?itok=GcSVQeWp)
Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan in WBC? California-born outfielder honoring mother's heritage