![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/twitter_card_120x120/s3/2023-03/Lars%20Nootbar%20Japan%20032123.jpg?itok=6DXgqVED)
Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan in WBC? California-born
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/uploads/imported_images/uploads/2023/03/np_file_214887.jpeg)
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar happy to expand his baseball family with
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/t_16x9/t_w1024/mlb/diyjcize9hnvcsgi7qcn)
World Baseball Classic's biggest remaining storylines
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Lars Nootbaar's WBC teammate doesn't think his lack of Japanese
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_desktop_webp/s3/2023-03/japan-032023-ftr.jpg.webp)
Japan vs. Mexico final score, results: Munetaka Murakami overcomes
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Lars Nootbaar Brings 'Grind-It-Out Spirit' to Japan and WBC
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/7f8f9-16794916086143-1920.jpg?name=small)
Lars Nootbaar shines spotlight on Shohei Ohtani after two-way
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/c_scale,w_400/v1/media/gmg/XD6P5EN7ARDDHOLVU7S3BWIEAU.jpg?_a=AJFJtWIA)
Lars Nootbaar brings 'grind-it-out spirit' to Japan and WBC
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/e0/9e067fef-c5bc-5e05-99ee-05dc0a484aad/6413534d669de.preview.jpg?crop=1763%2C926%2C0%2C124&resize=1200%2C630&order=crop%2Cresize)
Cardinals converge on Miami: Lars Nootbaar with Team Japan, All
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/uploads/imported_images/uploads/2023/03/np_file_214898.jpeg)
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar happy to expand his baseball family with
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/03/Lars-Nootbaar.jpg)
Japanese high school baseball players discouraged from using World
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/38ba0-16794912913218-1920.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar shines spotlight on Shohei Ohtani after two-way
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/04/07/multimedia/07mlb-nootbaar-pepper-lars-pkvw/07mlb-nootbaar-pepper-lars-pkvw-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
At WBC, Cardinals Outfielder Lars Nootbaar Was a Hit With Japan
![How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic](https://afpbb.ismcdn.jp/mwimgs/c/f/-/img_cf2052635b70e601d49d43d74b665276103201.jpg)
Japan fans pepper US-born Nootbaar with love at World Baseball