After a breakout 2022 season, Lars Nootbaar hopes to go one step further in ’23.
The star attraction of Saturday’s Cardinals Caravan at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Nootbaar strives to build on last year’s success by becoming a consistent impact performer this summer.
“I want to be an everyday starter, but I want to do much more than that,” Nootbaar said. “I want to play a pivotal role on the team. I don’t want Nolan (Arenado) and Goldy (Paul Goldschmidt) to have all the pressure in the world on them. I want to help them lead.
“I want to improve in every part of my game,” Nootbaar added. “I want to get faster, stronger and I want to hit the ball a little harder. I just want to get better in all facets of the game to benefit the team.”
A 6-foot-3, 210-pound outfielder, the 25-year-old Nootbaar became a fan favorite among Cardinal fans last summer not only because of his outgoing personality, but also because he flashed glimpses of being an all-star caliber player.
“It was really special,” Nootbaar said of becoming a fan favorite. “I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t a top prospect or anything like that coming in, so I didn’t know if the fans even knew who I was. My first at-bat at Busch Stadium I heard the crowd saying ‘NOOOOOT’ and I thought they were booing me. Once I realized what they were doing, it was great, and I couldn’t be more grateful for how I was embraced by the fans.”
Nootbaar, who has yet to play a full season in the big leagues, had an interesting 2022 campaign.
He made the big league roster out of spring training but was demoted to Triple-A Memphis before being recalled when the team was hit with injuries.
Nootbaar played in 108 games, starting 66 in right field, 11 in center and two in left. Overall, Nootbaar hit .228 with 66 hits, 14 homers, 40 RBI and 53 runs scored. He had an OPS of .788 and a WAR of 2.2.
In the second half of the season, Nootbaar recorded a .366 on-base percentage and a .480 slugging percentage with 10 homers. He showed great plate discipline with his 16.7 percent walk rate after the break, which ranked fourth-best in MLB.
His second half surge definitely opened a lot of eyes and has fans and experts alike optimistic that Nootbaar’s career will take off.
During 34 straight starts from July 24 to August 30, Nootbaar hit .279 and drove in 16 runs as the Redbirds went 24-10 during that span.
Nootbaar, who spent time in the leadoff spot in the batting order, also played elite defense in the outfield, making several highlight-reel catches along the way.
“I had a rough start, but once the all-star break came, I started working on things and I righted the wrongs of how I started the season,” said Nootbaar, who hit a 452-foot home run against Milwaukee on Sept. 14, the longest at Busch Stadium in ’22. “I had a decent second half and I’m looking to have more consistency this season. But yeah, last season was a little bit of a roller-coaster.”
Nootbaar acknowledged he feels fortunate he was able to learn from the team’s veterans, including Cardinals legend and future hall of famer Albert Pujols.
“Albert is a great guy and a great teammate,” Nootbaar said. “Being able to watch him and learn from him, I’m just so thankful for that opportunity.”
Before the ’23 MLB season arrives, Nootbaar will play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Nootbaar’s mother is Japanese.
“I think it’s going to be huge for me,” said Nootbaar, who made his MLB debut during the 2021 season after being drafted out of USC in the eighth round in ’18. “It’s going to give me a playoff environment in March. By the time the regular season arrives I should be prepared for whatever is thrown at me. The competition is going to be stiff. Hopefully we’ll make it out of our pool and get to play teams like Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the US. All those rosters are loaded.”
And despite the retirement of both Pujols and Yadier Molina, Nootbaar said he’s confident the Cardinals have the pieces in place to put together a stellar ’23 campaign.
Of course, Nootbaar hopes to play a crucial role in the team’s success.
“I think we have a good lineup 1 through 9,” he said. “And with the addition of Wilson Contreras, I think we have some guys who can take the pressure off Nolan and Goldy. I’m excited.”
CARAVAN NOTES
The Cardinals Caravan returned to Joplin after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The free event was held in Young Gymnasium due to a capacity crowd.
Other current players who were in town to sign autographs and answer questions from fans were pitchers Zack Thompson and Gordon Graceffo.
Thompson enters the ’23 season rated as having the best curveball in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America.
Graceffo was the Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022.
Also in attendance were former Cardinals Randy Flores and Alan Benes.
Benes earned 13 wins as a Cardinal rookie in 1996.
Flores, who played for the Cardinals’ 2006 World Series championship squad, is currently the Cardinals’ assistant general manager and scouting director.
