In an emotional announcement that caught many by surprise, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar revealed that the 2025 season will be his final year in Major League Baseball.
Nootbaar, 27, made his plans public shortly after making history Friday night at Busch Stadium. Facing Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick, Nootbaar drew a five-pitch walk to open the bottom of the first inning — his ninth leadoff walk this March and April — breaking a 50-year-old MLB record previously held by Dodgers legend Davey Lopes.
The fan-favorite outfielder, known for his infectious energy and elite plate discipline, will continue to suit up for the Cardinals throughout the season before officially retiring this fall.
On the year, Nootbaar is slashing .253/.393/.424 through 25 games, with a walk rate (17.9%) that ranks among the best in baseball. His walk-to-strikeout ratio (1.167) places him eighth among all qualified hitters. The progress he’s shown in 2025 has been credited in part to Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown, who joined the staff last October.
“Brant has a great ability to catch things early and help you make the adjustments,” Nootbaar said earlier this month. “That’s been huge for me this year.”
Nootbaar has also been more patient than ever, seeing an average of 4.214 pitches per plate appearance — the best mark of his five-year career with St. Louis.
In a statement released Saturday morning, Nootbaar reflected on his decision:
“After a lot of thought, I’ve decided this will be my final season playing the game I love. I’m incredibly grateful to the Cardinals organization, my teammates, and the amazing fans in St. Louis. I want to give everything I have to this team for the rest of the year and hopefully finish it off with something special.”
Nootbaar’s announcement adds even more meaning to what was already shaping up to be a strong campaign for the Cardinals. As they chase postseason success, they’ll now be doing it with one more reason to rally: sending Nootbaar off in style.
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