St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbar fired up to play for Team Japan in World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic will pit many MLB teammates against one another in international competition. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is more than ready for the experience.

"I've been talking a little trash to the guys on Team USA," St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar said, via MLB Network.

Sounds a bit odd that Nootbaar, a native of El Segundo, Calif., would be talking trash to Team USA. However, he will actually be a part of Team Japan in the forthcoming World Baseball Classic.

Nootbaar qualifies to play for Japan as he has a Japanese mother. He will be the first player to suit up for Japan in the World Baseball Classic who has qualified for the team because of his ancestry rather than being a Japanese native.

The third-year Cardinals player has carved out a starting role in right field after playing 166 total games over his first two major league seasons. He will join several fellow MLB players on Team Japan's roster.

In addition to Nootbaar, Japan will feature Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, and outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who was signed by the Boston Red Sox in December.

However, the California native said he will have some difficulties communicating with his Japanese teammates during the WBC as he speaks very little of the language.

"I am going to try [to speak] a little bit," Nootbaar told the Associated Press. "Obviously it's going to be tough to learn a language in a month. I'm going to try my best. My mom is singing the Japanese national anthem in the house. I'm repeating it. We're just doing little stuff like that."

Nootbaar has hit just .231 through his first two major league seasons. However, the 25-year-old found some added pop in his bat in 2022, hitting 14 home runs in 108 games after hitting five in 58 games in 2021.

Team Japan among World Baseball Classic favorites

Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates.

Team Japan is among the favorites in this year's World Baseball Classic. Japan won the first two WBC Tournaments in 2006 and 2009, and remains the only two-time champion. Japan also finished third in 2013 and 2017.

The Tokyo Dome will host Team Japan's first WBC game on March 9, as the squad takes on Team China. The WBC runs from March 8-21.