Lars Nootbaar Bio
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar is an American professional baseball outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). On the international level, he represents the Japan national baseball team. Born and raised in El Segundo, California, Nootbaar played three seasons of college baseball at the University of Southern California. The Cardinals selected him in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Lars Nootbaar was born on September 8, 1997, to Charlie Nootbaar and Kumiko Enokida. His father is of Dutch descent, while his mother is Japanese. Growing up in El Segundo, California, Nootbaar was exposed to sports from an early age. He attended El Segundo High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football. Nootbaar was a three-time league MVP in baseball and twice earned the same honor in football as the Eagles’ starting quarterback. He committed to play college baseball at the University of Southern California, where he also received offers to play college football from UC Davis and Fordham.
Path to Baseball
At the University of Southern California, Nootbaar was a three-year starter for the Trojans, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Nigel, who also played at USC. After his freshman year, he participated in summer league baseball with the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League. During his sophomore season, he earned All-Pac-12 Conference honors after achieving a .313 batting average with 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, and seven home runs. He continued to develop his skills in summer wood-bat leagues, playing for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In his junior year, Nootbaar recorded a .249 batting average with six home runs and 24 RBIs.
Lars Nootbaar Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Lars Nootbaar in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. After signing with the team, he was assigned to the State College Spikes of the Low-A New York–Penn League, where he set a team record with seven RBIs in a single game. In his first professional season, he batted .227 with two home runs and 26 RBIs over 56 games. Nootbaar began the 2019 season with the Single-A Peoria Chiefs before being promoted to the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals and later to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. Across 101 games in 2019, he achieved a .264 batting average with seven home runs and 38 RBIs. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Breakthrough (2021–Present)
Nootbaar began the 2021 season at the Cardinals’ alternate training site before being assigned to the Triple-A East Memphis Redbirds. He was promoted to the major leagues on June 22, 2021, after posting a .329 batting average with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 22 games. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting left fielder against the Detroit Tigers, recording his first MLB hit—a triple—on his second day. Nootbaar hit his first MLB home run as a pinch hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 12, 2021. He finished his debut season with a .239 batting average, five home runs, and 15 RBIs over 124 plate appearances.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2022, Nootbaar became a key player for the Cardinals, hitting .228 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs over 108 games. He continued to improve in 2023, primarily playing center field and achieving a .261 batting average with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs over 117 games. Nootbaar’s performance dipped slightly in 2024, where he batted .244 with 12 home runs in 109 games. In 2025, he made 135 appearances, hitting .234 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. Notably, he underwent surgeries on both heels in October 2025, which may affect his participation in the 2026 season.
Lars Nootbaar Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Lars Nootbaar has been recognized for his performance on the field, particularly during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Japan national baseball team.
Lars Nootbaar Awards Won
While specific awards won by Lars Nootbaar have not been detailed, his achievements in both Major League Baseball and international competitions highlight his growing reputation in the sport.
Lars Nootbaar Family
Lars Nootbaar comes from a supportive family background. His parents, Charlie Nootbaar and Kumiko Enokida, met while studying at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He has an older brother, Nigel, who played professionally in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, and a sister.
Personal Life
Nootbaar was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers during his childhood. He has a unique connection to his heritage, as one of his middle names, Tatsuji, is also his grandfather’s name, which he honors by printing it on some of his baseball equipment. During the 2022 season, he became a fan favorite among Cardinals supporters, often greeted with cheers of “Nooooot!” when he stepped up to bat or made a defensive play.
