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Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in
How Lars Nootbaar -- and his celebration -- became a sensation for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://i0.wp.com/batflipsandnerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/key-visual.jpeg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1)
Ohtani, Trout and a Moment for the Ages – Bat Flips and Nerds
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Can You Believe This Right Now? by Lars Nootbaar
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Lars Nootbaar & Shohei Ohtani became best friends at The WBC, Shohei Ohtani, Japan national baseball team, World Baseball Classic, Yu Darvish, St. Louis Cardinals
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HpdgxeXiQew/hqdefault.jpg)
Cardinals Lars Nootbaar talks about Japan teammate Shohei Ohtani
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://external-preview.redd.it/shohei-ohtani-gave-lars-nootbaar-a-seiko-watch-which-shohei-v0-Xb5Dx-Fketz4t_p3w_IiXjoQqIaZG3oVcJOM6BAfDYU.jpg?auto=webp&s=5acd3ebcfd19f1308b3cfa3d75f170321bf25f96)
Shohei Ohtani gave Lars Nootbaar a SEIKO watch which Shohei was actually wearing as a promise that he would represent Japan again in 2026. : r/baseball
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://www.newsday.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AYTJkNTgwMjMtZDkwZi00%3AMjAyOGVi%2Fwbc-baseball-czech-republic-japan.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Lars Nootbaar brings 'grind-it-out spirit' to Japan and WBC - Newsday
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/7b/57b9924d-e520-5199-9610-d1bf83c7286f/640e5055f3f94.preview.jpg?crop=1763%2C926%2C0%2C124&resize=1200%2C630&order=crop%2Cresize)
Can Lars Nootbaar claim Cardinals leadoff spot from abroad with Team Japan?: Cardinals Extra
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/t_16x9/t_w372/mlb/axf3n35phr7umynv8wpd.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar reunite in St. Louis
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2023/03/22/MHZUOVCEZVK7NQ5MX7PLC6QPIU.jpg)
World Baseball Classic win is must-see viewing in Japan – Sun Sentinel
![Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar, fast friends playing for Japan in](https://media.ksdk.com/assets/KSDK/images/38180fff-9077-40b0-93f7-7a339bb0bb1d/38180fff-9077-40b0-93f7-7a339bb0bb1d_1140x641.jpg)
Cardinals Lars Nootbaar talks about Japan teammate Shohei Ohtani