Lars Nootbaar has had quite an eventful year.
It started with his participation in the World Baseball Classic with Japan, the country of his mother.
It was a success, as he helped the nation lift its third trophy.
Then, he went on to post a solid .261/.367/.418 line with 14 home runs and a .784 OPS for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2023 season.
In the process, he became a hero in Japan.
The league’s official Twitter account posted a wholesome video of Nootbaar “coaching” several kids in Japan, having a great time with them.
This video of Lars Nootbaar in Japan will make your day ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5jhw7IJPMO
— MLB (@MLB) November 21, 2023
They are running the bases and high-fiving the major leaguer, hitting off a tee, and having an excellent time.
You can see these kids look up to Nootbaar, as Japan has adopted him as one of their own.
Nootbaar was born in El Segundo, California, and grew up there.
His father is American of European descent, and his mother is from Japan.
As a kid, he shared time with Japanese players from a youth team who came to America for a tour.
The time he spent with them, and being familiar with the country’s culture thanks to his mother, were important moments in the decision-making process of accepting an offer to join the Japanese World Baseball Classic team this year.
Nootbaar became the first player not born in Japan to represent the country in a WBC.
Japan has earned a place in his heart, and the country has welcomed him with open arms.
It has been a symbiotic relationship.
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