What's the story behind Lars Nootbaar's pepper-grinder celebration? Spice up your celly with Team Japan star's viral gesture

Lars Nootbaar, a rising star in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, has become well-known for his unique and memorable pepper-grinder celebrations. But what's the story behind the viral gesture?

Nootbaar, a native of Southern California, played college baseball at the University of Southern California (USC) before being drafted by the Cardinals in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB draft. He quickly made a name for himself in the minor leagues, showcasing his power-hitting ability and strong work ethic.

However, it wasn't until his debut 2021 season in the MLB that Lars Nootbaar's pepper-grinder celebration started to gain attention. The celebration caught the attention of his teammates and fans alike, and soon became a regular part of Nootbaar's post-home run routine. But where did the idea come from?

The famous celebration started last year during his time with the Cardinals as an inspiration for him and his teammates to grind out a few more hits or a few more runs. It started as a form of encouragement for teammates to dig deep and ended up catching the attention of the fans. Since then, it has become a popular gesture which has been further popularized with printed tees and merchandise.

Lars Nootbaar set to represent Team Japan in WBC 2023

Lars Nootbaar was born in El Segundo, California, to an American father and a Japanese mother. This made him eligible to represent Team Japan in the WBC, making him the only player on their roster not born in the country. However, he has gelled well with his national team players in the preparations leading up to the tournament.

So much so that Japanese teammate and icon Shohei Ohtani mimicked the celebration during an exhibition contest before the WBC, making it go viral in Japan. The celebrations between MLB compatriots Ohtani and Nootbaar displayed the camaraderie between players in the Japanese camp, which is a promising sign for fans. Team Japan are among the favorites to win the tournament and they look to be on the right track to make it happen.