Top 5 plays by Lars Nootbaar as he electrifies the crowd with an incredible catch for Team Japan

Lars Nootbaar was the stand-out player in Team Japan 's first game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic campaign against Team China at the Tokyo Dome, Japan.

While all eyes were on Japanese icon Shohei Ohtani, it was a stellar performance from Lars Nootbaar that caught the attention of Japanese fans.

Nootbaar had an excellent opening game of the tournament. Though he may be the only player on the team who's not born in the country, he's certainly capturing the hearts of fans in Japan and beyond.

Here's a look at the top five plays by Lars Nootbaar in the World Baseball Classic so far:

• Nootbaar started the Japanese offence with the first hit of the evening in the first innings which gave them the lead. He struck the first pitch down the middle for a single.
• Nootbaar showed his defensive skills in the thrid innings. An Ohtani pitch is hit high into the air and Nootbaar covers considerable ground before producing an amazing sliding catch.
• Nootbaar again displayed his batting skills in the bottom fourth innings with another hit which was followed by an Ohtani hit that further increased Japan's lead.
• In the top fifth inning, Nootbaar made another sliding catch which was even more outragious than others.
• Following Nootbaar and Ohtani's back-to-back hits in the fourth inning, both players celebrated with Nootbaar's trademark "salt-n-pepper" celebration. As this Japan team builds momentum, the celebration has become iconinc among players and fans.

Team Japan have looked formidable so far in the tournament and Lars Nootbaar is at the center of it all.

Team Japan and Lars Nootbaar look to build on their strong start in the WBC

Having won their first game 1-8 against Team China in the World Baseball Classic, Team Japan will look to continue their form.

The players are pumped up and playing in sync. The likes of Ohtani, Nootbaar and Togo have taken center stage and produced the goods. Their next challenge is against South Korea.

This will be a tougher game and could prove to be something of a litmus test for both sides. Keep an eye out for Nootbaar in that one, as he continues to impress.