![Lars Nootbaar Team Japan WBC: Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan? Exploring St. Louis Cardinals star's nationality and family heritage](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fredbirdrants-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F18831264-850x560-67cf5ae6e8d541b716e189bc0ff05664.jpg)
Comparing Lars Nootbaar with other St. Louis Cardinals heroes
![Lars Nootbaar Team Japan WBC: Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan? Exploring St. Louis Cardinals star's nationality and family heritage](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
![Lars Nootbaar Team Japan WBC: Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan? Exploring St. Louis Cardinals star's nationality and family heritage](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/01/febce-16750037652946-1920.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar's WBC teammate doesn't think his lack of Japanese language will cause issues: He's a sparkplug who will overcome the language barrier
![Lars Nootbaar Team Japan WBC: Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan? Exploring St. Louis Cardinals star's nationality and family heritage](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/t_16x9/t_w372/mlb/axf3n35phr7umynv8wpd.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar makes history with Team Japan
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BASEBALL/ 'Nikkei' Lars Nootbaar gets his shot to play for Japan in WBC
![Lars Nootbaar Team Japan WBC: Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan? Exploring St. Louis Cardinals star's nationality and family heritage](https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2022%2F0826%2Fr1053305_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg)
Lars Nootbaar, Masataka Yoshida join Japan's WBC roster - ESPN
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Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar happy to expand his baseball family with Samurai Japan - The Japan Times
![Lars Nootbaar Team Japan WBC: Why is Lars Nootbaar playing for Japan? Exploring St. Louis Cardinals star's nationality and family heritage](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2023/03/12/997df1e0-572b-4e7f-a40c-0fba34656a74/schwarber.jpg?width=320&height=180)
How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic
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Lars Nootbaar talks about winning the World Baseball Classic title with Japan
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USC Baseball Alumnus Lars Nootbaar Makes MLB Debut With St. Louis Cardinals