![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/c_scale,w_400/v1/media/gmg/LVFUPZKEMJBOJKQ522JJSO2HOY.jpg?_a=AJFJtWIA)
Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://a.espncdn.com/media/motion/2023/0321/dm_230321_WBBC_Shohei_Ks_Trout1394/dm_230321_WBBC_Shohei_Ks_Trout1394.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani fans Mike Trout for final out as Japan wins WBC - ESPN
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/301d8efee990dbf125ca0ce8849c5930dcfa1779983b9b3d6a1813161deae848.jpg)
St. Louis Cardinals celebration becoming a part of Team Japan's identity
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qwEGz1TMbmA/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLBnvFSkNaseKWSzgMhCxOkQA7QgbA)
Lars Nootbaar on Shohei Ohtani ahead of Cards vs. Angels in St. Louis
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/38ba0-16794912913218-1920.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar shines spotlight on Shohei Ohtani after two-way superstar seals historic third championship for Team Japan at 2023 WBC
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://media.ksdk.com/assets/KSDK/images/38180fff-9077-40b0-93f7-7a339bb0bb1d/38180fff-9077-40b0-93f7-7a339bb0bb1d_1920x1080.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar on facing Japan teammate Shohei Ohtani
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/fd/5fd4fc38-4b38-56ef-b137-a64a905bfb7e/641a87d3ef1a3.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
Goold: Shohei Ohtani's dramatic showdown vs. Mike Trout sends Japan, Lars Nootbaar to WBC gold
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stlpinchhits.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/e1/3e11bc42-641a-51e2-8b88-4a52ca4c94af/641b642941c80.image.png?resize=640%2C360)
Lars Nootbaar talks about winning the World Baseball Classic title with Japan
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://gray-kmov-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/2CFB7FfCDG1T-PQ-ZaJEK81Nb_E=/1200x675/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GJMU7EZWVNERLBHUSJWPPE2RKA.jpg)
Nootbaar collects two hits, teaches Ohtani to grind the pepper as Team Japan wins exhibition
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/ar_16:9,g_auto,q_auto:good,w_1024,c_fill,f_jpg,dpr_3.0/mlb/dy6e97tqencnkgdq5nel)
Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout to win World Baseball Classic
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://fox2now.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/03/AP23071373414277.jpg?strip=1)
Lars Nootbaar and Shohei Ohtani bond from WBC, possibly to benefit of Cardinals
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/shohei-ohtani-3-473x315.jpg)
Why Is American-Born Lars Nootbaar Playing Alongside Shohei Ohtani for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic? - EssentiallySports
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar After EPIC Japan Win](https://img.kyodonews.net/english/public/images/posts/f8e132a4c4d7e17771c1a851b356a901/photo_l.jpg)
Baseball: Nootbaar's mom hopes he can get Japan WBC skipper airborne