Lars Nootbaar Bio
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar is an American professional baseball player and outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. Born in El Segundo, California, he played three seasons of college baseball at the University of Southern California before the Cardinals selected him in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft; he made his major league debut in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar was born on September 8, 1997, in El Segundo, California, to Charlie Nootbaar and Kumiko Enokida. He grew up in El Segundo and attended El Segundo High School, where he was a standout in both baseball and football and earned multiple league MVP honors in baseball and as his high school football team’s starting quarterback.
Nootbaar comes from a mixed heritage household: his father is American of Dutch descent and his mother is Japanese. His older brother, Nigel Nootbaar, pitched at the University of Southern California and played professionally in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system. A childhood connection to Japanese baseball left an impression on him; at age nine he served as a batboy for a visiting Japanese youth team, an experience his family credits with influencing later international choices.
Path to Baseball
Nootbaar committed to play college baseball at the University of Southern California, where he was a three-year starter for the USC Trojans and followed in the footsteps of his older brother. As a sophomore he earned All-Pac-12 Conference recognition after hitting .313 with 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, and seven home runs; he also played summer wood-bat ball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League and the La Crosse Loggers in the Northwoods League.
Following his junior season at USC, Nootbaar entered the 2018 Major League Baseball draft and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth round. He signed and began his professional career in the Cardinals’ minor league system, moving through multiple affiliates before reaching the majors.
Lars Nootbaar Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
After signing with the St. Louis Cardinals, Nootbaar 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 and finished his first professional season with a .227 average, two home runs, and 26 RBIs in 56 games. The following year he advanced through three levels in the minors: beginning at the Single-A Peoria Chiefs, promoted to the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals, and then to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, combining for a .264 average with seven home runs and 38 RBIs over 101 games.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interrupting development for many players including Nootbaar. He returned to organized play in 2021 at the Cardinals’ alternate training site and was later reassigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds as he continued his climb toward the major leagues.
Major League Baseball Breakthrough (2021–Present)
On June 22, 2021, Lars Taylor-Tatsuji Nootbaar was selected to the St. Louis Cardinals’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting left fielder against the Detroit Tigers, and recorded his first major league hit, a triple, the following day. He hit his first MLB home run on August 12, 2021, as a pinch hitter in a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and added another pinch-hit home run the next day.
Nootbaar finished the 2021 season with a .239/.317/.422 slash line across 124 plate appearances, contributing five home runs and 15 RBIs. He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs after the season to continue honing his skills. In 2022 he moved from a fourth outfielder role into a more regular starting position, appearing in 108 games and hitting 14 home runs with a .228 average and a .340 on-base percentage.
By 2023 Nootbaar was spending most of his time in center field for the Cardinals, while also appearing in left and right field; across 117 games he posted a .261 batting average with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs. His versatility in the outfield and ability to contribute in multiple lineup spots became a key part of his role with the club.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2021–Present)
Nootbaar has been a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization since his selection in 2018 and has remained with the major league club since his promotion in 2021. He developed from a minor league prospect into a fan-favorite major leaguer in St. Louis, noted for timely hits, occasional pinch-hit power and defensive range across the outfield.
Injuries have affected parts of his tenure: he was placed on the injured list with a hand injury in 2021 and experienced rib fractures before the 2024 season that limited his availability. In October 2025 the Cardinals announced he had undergone surgeries on both heels to remove Haglund’s deformities, a procedure that carried implications for his availability entering 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nootbaar’s strengths are his athleticism, plus defensive versatility and an ability to deliver in high-leverage situations as both a starter and pinch hitter. He combines solid plate discipline with occasional power, producing double-digit home run totals in multiple seasons and providing the Cardinals with a left-handed bat capable of covering all three outfield positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Nootbaar’s career include his MLB debut and first major league hit in June 2021, back-to-back pinch-hit home runs in August 2021, and his role as a starter for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He was the first player not born in Japan to represent the country in a World Baseball Classic tournament, and he recorded an RBI in the championship game as Japan won the 2023 title.
Lars Nootbaar Career Wins
Nootbaar’s professional accomplishments are primarily recorded in offensive statistics rather than wins. Through June 21, 2026, his major league totals include 60 home runs, 201 runs batted in, and a .243 batting average; these figures reflect his cumulative production at the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals since his MLB debut in 2021.
Major League Highlights
His first major league home run came on August 12, 2021, and he quickly followed with another pinch-hit homer the next day. The 2022 season saw him assume a larger role in the Cardinals’ outfield and reach 14 home runs, a mark he matched in 2023 while logging the majority of his innings in center field. He has contributed key late-game hits, including a walk-off single on August 25, 2021.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the minor leagues, Nootbaar established notable single-game and seasonal performances, including a seven-RBI game for the State College Spikes and steady progress through Single-A, High-A and Double-A in 2019. He also played winter and fall ball assignments designed to accelerate development, such as his stint in the Arizona Fall League.
Lars Nootbaar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nootbaar’s family includes his father, Charlie Nootbaar, and his mother, Kumiko Enokida. He has an older brother, Nigel, who pitched at USC and played in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, and a sister. The family’s bicultural background helped shape Nootbaar’s identity and later informed his decision to accept an invitation to represent Japan internationally.
Personal Life
Nootbaar was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan as a youth. He sometimes uses his grandfather’s name, Tatsuji, on equipment and has become a recognizable presence among Cardinals fans, who adopted a chant that calls his name during at-bats and defensive plays. Beyond baseball, public personal details are limited to family and early life information.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Nootbaar made 135 appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting .234/.325/.361 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. The season was notable for the playing time and steady contributions he provided across the outfield, though his power numbers and overall production were modest compared with earlier peaks.
Following the 2025 regular season, the Cardinals announced on October 17, 2025, that Nootbaar had undergone surgeries on both heels to remove Haglund’s deformities. The procedure led the organization to indicate the possibility that he could begin the 2026 season on the injured list while completing rehabilitation from the surgeries.