Anyone who followed the 2023 World Baseball Classic could tell that Lars Nootbaar would love another chance to suit up for Team Japan.
The sixth-year outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals became one of the standout personalities of the tournament three years ago, representing Japan through his mother’s heritage even though he was raised in Southern California. However, after having surgery on both heels this winter, he won’t be able to return to help Samurai Japan defend its title.
Though he knew when he decided to have surgery that he likely wouldn’t recover in time for the WBC, Nootbaar said it was something of a no-brainer to put his health for the upcoming regular season first.
Though he knew when he decided to have surgery that he likely wouldn’t recover in time for the WBC, Nootbaar said it was something of a no-brainer to put his health for the upcoming regular season first.
Nootbaar will miss Team Japan experience
“When we found some structural damage, it was a decision I had to make pretty fast because it would enter into the season, and we knew the recovery time it would take,” Nootbaar said, per Bill Ladson of MLB.com. “It was an easy one with the World Baseball Classic and Spring Training coming up. I thought career-wise, it would be best (to have surgery).”
Nootbaar said he had Haglund’s deformities in both heels, which caused inflammation in the area where the heels meet the Achilles’ tendon.
Getting back to full health after playing through pain all season and putting up his worst season statistics was the primary goal. But he’s still bummed to be missing out on the WBC experience.
“I’m greatly disappointed about the games that are coming up now,” Nootbaar said. “I saw some clips of the ‘23 games that brought me back… I remember getting off the flight in Japan. I really didn’t know what to expect, seeing it for the first time, and it was like a whirlwind. I was soaking it all in. Now, being a spectator, you wish you were there, but I made the right decision.”
