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 before beginning his professional career.
The Cardinals selected Nootbaar in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2021. Known for his patient approach at the plate and versatile outfield defense, Nootbaar has developed into a steady contributor for St. Louis while also serving as a cultural link between American baseball and Japan’s national program.
Early Life and Background
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar was born on September 8, 1997, in El Segundo, California. He is the son of Charlie Nootbaar, an American father of Dutch descent, and Kumiko Enokida, a Japanese mother. His parents met while they were students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, blending American and Japanese heritage within the family.
Nootbaar grew up in El Segundo alongside an older brother, Nigel, who later pitched at the University of Southern California and played professionally in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system from 2012 to 2015. He also has a sister. As a child, Nootbaar was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and developed a deep love for multiple sports in the Southern California community.
Nootbaar attended El Segundo High School, where he starred in both baseball and football. He was a three-time league MVP in baseball and a two-time league MVP in football while starting at quarterback for the Eagles. Although he drew college football recruiting interest from UC Davis and Fordham, he committed to play college baseball at the University of Southern California.
Path to Baseball
Nootbaar became a three-year starter for the USC Trojans, following in the footsteps of his older brother Nigel. After his freshman year, he played summer league baseball for the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League, gaining valuable wood-bat experience. As a sophomore, he earned All-Pac-12 Conference recognition after hitting .313 with 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, and seven home runs.
Following his standout sophomore season, Nootbaar returned to summer ball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In his junior year at USC, he posted a .249 batting average with six home runs and 24 runs batted in. His combination of on-base skills, athleticism, and multi-sport background helped position him for the 2018 MLB draft.
A childhood encounter with Japanese baseball also shaped Nootbaar’s future. In 2006, when he was nine years old, he served as a batboy for a touring Japanese national youth team that included future MLB pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Several players stayed with his family, an experience that later influenced his decision to represent Japan internationally.
Lars Nootbaar Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. After signing, he was assigned to the State College Spikes of the Low-A New York–Penn League, where he set a team record with seven RBI in a single game. He finished that season hitting .227 with two home runs and 26 RBI across 56 games.
In 2019, Nootbaar opened the year with the Single-A Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League before earning promotions to the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals and the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. Over 101 games between the three affiliates, he batted .264 with seven home runs and 38 RBI. The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, temporarily halting his development.
Cardinals Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Nootbaar began the 2021 season at the Cardinals’ alternate training site and was later reassigned to the Triple-A East Memphis Redbirds. On June 22, 2021, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues, making his MLB debut that day as the starting left fielder against the Detroit Tigers. He recorded his first MLB hit, a triple, the next day and hit his first MLB home run off JT Brubaker during a 7–6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 12.
Over 2022 and 2023, Nootbaar grew into an everyday role with St. Louis. In 2022, he appeared in 108 games and hit .228/.340/.448 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs while seeing time in left, center, and right field. In 2023, he played 117 games and batted .261 with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs, emerging as a fan favorite who was often greeted by loud “Nooooot!” chants during at-bats.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
Nootbaar suffered rib fractures before the 2024 season, which affected his performance and playing time. He still appeared in 109 games, batting .244 with 12 home runs. In 2025, he made 135 appearances for the Cardinals, hitting .234/.325/.361 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI, continuing to handle a versatile outfield role.
On October 17, 2025, the Cardinals announced that Nootbaar had undergone surgeries on both heels ten days earlier to remove Haglund’s deformities. On March 25, 2026, he was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the regular season, and on June 5, 2026, he was activated and made his season debut the same day, going 2-for-6 with a double, a run, and an RBI.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar is regarded for his patient plate discipline, his ability to draw walks, and his willingness to use the entire field. Defensively, he offers outfield versatility by playing all three spots capably, with the instincts and routes needed to handle large ballparks. His smooth left-handed swing and aggressive baserunning instincts add another dimension to his profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
One signature moment came on August 25, 2021, when Nootbaar delivered his first career walk-off hit, a 10th-inning single against Detroit Tigers reliever Michael Fulmer. He also became the first player not born in Japan to represent the country in a World Baseball Classic, batting leadoff and recording an RBI in Japan’s championship-game victory over the United States at the 2023 WBC.
Lars Nootbaar Career Wins
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar has built a steady MLB résumé since debuting in 2021, highlighted by dependable run production and timely hitting. His ability to deliver in clutch moments has helped him earn a consistent role within the Cardinals’ outfield rotation.
MLB Highlights
Through the 2026 season, Nootbaar has recorded 60 career home runs and 201 runs batted in while batting .243. He produced back-to-back 14-homer seasons in 2022 and 2023, cementing his status as an everyday outfielder. His first MLB home run, a pinch-hit shot off JT Brubaker in 2021, signaled the pop that has since defined his power output.
International Highlights
Nootbaar starred for Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, helping the squad capture the title in Miami. He was unable to compete in the 2026 WBC because he was still recovering from heel surgeries, but his WBC performance remains a defining achievement in his career.
Lars Nootbaar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar comes from a blended American-Japanese household. His father, Charlie Nootbaar, is of Dutch descent, while his mother, Kumiko Enokida, is Japanese. His parents met while studying at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the family built its home in El Segundo, California.
Personal Life
Nootbaar’s older brother, Nigel Nootbaar, pitched at USC and played in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system from 2012 to 2015. Nootbaar also has a sister and has honored his Japanese heritage by printing his grandfather’s name, Tatsuji, on some of his baseball equipment. He grew up as a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and has credited his family for shaping his strong work ethic.
2025 Season Performance
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar played 135 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2025, batting .234/.325/.361 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI. Despite a dip in batting average, he remained a regular presence in the outfield and continued to draw walks at a strong rate, contributing to the Cardinals’ offensive depth.
His season ended earlier than expected when, on October 17, 2025, the Cardinals announced he had undergone surgeries on both heels ten days earlier to remove Haglund’s deformities. The procedures raised immediate questions about his readiness for the start of the following campaign.
On October 26, 2025, Chaim Bloom indicated that Nootbaar could begin the 2026 season on the injured list as a result of those surgeries. The recovery timeline placed his return as one of the key storylines to monitor entering the new year.
