Shohei Ohtani's teammate Lars Nootbaar marvels at his class on and off the field
If you don't know why Shohei Ohtani is considered one of the best players of all time, you should. The Los Angeles Angels star is as talented on the mound as he is in the batter's box.
Since coming to the MLB from Japan in 2018, Ohtani has received an MVP Award as well as Rookie of the Year honors. He became the first pitcher to strike out 100 or more batters while simultaneously hitting 100 RBIs.
It is for this reason that the Iwate Prefecture native leaped at the opportunity to represent his country at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in 2021 but was postponed due to pandemic concerns. It will be Ohtani's first time playing in a tournament that was won by his home nation in both 2006 and 2009.
Shohei Ohtani x Lars Nootbar
Samurai Japan 🇯🇵 https://t.co/UyubU7gvzw
"Shohei Ohtani x Lars Nootbar. Samurai Japan" - @ shoheisaveus
Among the wealth of world-class talent that will flank Ohtani on Team Japan this year is St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar. Although he was born in California, Nootbaar has a Japanese-born mother, making him eligible to represent the island nation in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
In a recent piece for The Seattle Times, writer Stephen Wade reported from Tokyo, where Team Japan is getting ready for their opening game of the tournament on March 9th against China PR.
Nootbaar was among the players that Wade profiled. Speaking about Ohtani, Nootbaar stated that he too was a "fan being able to watch him" the Los Angeles Angels star. He then went on to make a compelling statement about dealing with Ohtani on and off the field:
""He’s a freak of nature and even a better guy"
Team Japan has been successful in pre-tournament play against a host of Japanese teams. Shohei Ohtani himself had a pair of 3-run home runs against the Hanshin Tigers of the NPB. Nootbaar and Ohtani will be playing alongside a host of MLB and NPB players, such as the recent Boston Red Sox hire Masataka Yoshida, as they hope to bring the trophy home.
SHOHEI OHTANI TO DEEP CENTER FOR A 3-RUN BOMB!!!! https://t.co/sox3cKr08u
"SHOHEI OHTANI TO DEEP CENTER FOR A 3-RUN BOMB!!!!" - @ Soto
Shohei Ohtani could be a difference-maker for his country
Shohei Ohtani is expected to start on the mound against China on Thursday. Widely expected to emerge from their pool as the number one team, Japan's only real competition in the early stages of the tournament will be South Korea.