Lars Nootbaar
Lars Nootbaar is an Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder and 2023 World Baseball Classic champion with Japan, known to fans for his pepper-grinder celebration.
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Latest
Lars’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
World Baseball Classic
MLB
USC Athletics
MLBOverview
- Full name
- Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar
- Born
- September 8, 1997, in El Segundo, California
- Sport
- Baseball, outfielder
- College
- USC Trojans, 2016 to 2018
- MLB debut
- June 22, 2021, with the St. Louis Cardinals
- International breakout
- Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic team
Mini bio
How it started.
Nootbaar grew up in El Segundo, California, and played both baseball and football at El Segundo High School. He went on to USC, where he played from 2016 to 2018. The Cardinals selected him in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Making the majors.
He worked through the Cardinals’ minor league system before making his MLB debut in Detroit on June 22, 2021. Starting in left field, he drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and became the 117th USC player to reach the majors.
A connection across the Pacific.
His mother, Kumi, is Japanese, and he represented Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The team won the championship, while his pepper-grinder celebration became a familiar sight among teammates and fans. His Japanese name, Tatsuji, honors his grandfather.
Beyond the ballpark.
His mother joined him in a Japanese commercial.
The next chapter.
After beginning his MLB career in St. Louis, Nootbaar moved to the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2026.
Creditschronological, newest first
Professional baseball
- 2026Arizona DiamondbacksOutfielder
- 2021–2026St. Louis CardinalsOutfielder
International baseball
- 2023Japan, World Baseball ClassicOutfielder
College baseball
- 2016–2018USC TrojansBaseball player
Awards
Quotes
It feels like I'm living in a dream right now.Lars Nootbaar, MLB.com
After Japan’s 2023 championship.
Trivia
- His USC biography lists The Sandlot as his favorite movie and pasta as his favorite food.
- His older brother Nigel also played baseball at USC before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
- He earned league MVP honors in high school football in both 2013 and 2014.
- His first MLB hit was a triple, the day after his debut.
Find Lars
Follow Lars on Instagram and catch his latest MLB highlights.
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