St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar became the first Japanese-American to play for Samurai Japan in 2023, suiting up for his mother Kumiko Enokida’s home country at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Nootbaar, playing in his fifth season in Major League Baseball in 2025 with the Cardinals, hit .269 with four RBIs, two stolen bases, and scored seven runs in the previous edition of the international tournament. Ultimately, he was a key member of a Japanese team that defeated the United States, led by Mike Trout, 3-2 in the championship game at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.
The 27-year-old would like to return to right field for Samurai Japan again next March, where they will compete in Pool C in Tokyo against Australia, Korea, Czechia, and Chinese Taipei.
“I hope so,” Nootbaar told Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose in a video interview when asked if he plans to compete in the WBC for Japan again. “You know, right now it’s up in the air. I want to be playing my best baseball if I’m representing that team, and if I don’t feel like I can do that to the best of my ability, then I won’t.”
Nootbaar can play all three outfield positions, but has primarily been utilized in right field during his career, starting 187 games at the corner spot since 2021. He’s lost a step in the speed category over the last four seasons, dropping from 28.4 feet per second in 2021 to 27.2 feet per second in 2025. Still, Nootbaar could provide valuable defense for Japan if they welcome him back to the team, as he possesses above-average range and arm strength.
Japan will have other players to consider for the roster spot if Nootbaar is not back next year. Ukyo Shuto of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks could be a better option in terms of speed, with 31 stolen bases in 35 attempts this season.
Kensuke Kondoh won Pacific League MVP honors with the Hawks in 2024 after hitting .324 with 29 homers, and he and Nootbaar became first-time teammates at the 2023 WBC. If Kondoh’s spot on the roster is guaranteed, perhaps Nootbaar has his work cut out for him against Chusei Mannami of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, who has a rocket for an arm in the outfield and cut his strikeout percentage from 40% in 2024 to 28% in 2025.
Nootbaar clearly has the passion to represent Japan again, but it may not be a guarantee he’s back on the field with the defending champions in 2026.
Photo: Lars Nootbaar scores during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
