LOS ANGELES -- It's a heartwarming photo -- a young boy happily posing with a team of Japanese high school all-stars. Fast forward nearly two decades, and that boy has made a Japanese all-star team of his own, although in a roundabout way.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, a Japanese-American raised in California, was recently selected to play for the Japan national team for the World Baseball Classic that begins next month.
"I'm happy I get to do something that's special for my mom really," Nootbaar said. "Obviously, for me, it's great and I can't wait to play in it and represent Japan. It's a special thing."
