Nootbaar, Arenado buddy up with big homers

PHOENIX -- The day the Cardinals broke camp in Florida and headed for Arizona and then Los Angeles, where they would open the regular season against the Dodgers, Lars Nootbaar admitted that he never felt more alone and abandoned in his life because he so dearly wanted to be on that trip with his teammates.

Separated from the team for several weeks because of the two ribs he fractured on his left side in early March, Nootbaar said the desire to get back around his teammates and once again perform at a high level drove him throughout his rehab.

On Friday, in his first game back, Nootbaar showed why he is considered a key piece for the Cardinals -- both with his infectious, feel-good energy and his big bat in the middle of the lineup. Nootbaar hit a towering 438-foot home run in his first game back. He also celebrated close friend Nolan Arenado’s smashing of his first home run of the season. Their work played a big role in the Cardinals building an early six-run lead, and St. Louis rallied late for a 9-6 defeat of the D-backs at Chase Field on Friday.

“[Reserve shortstop Brandon] Crawford was joking with me before the game and asking me why I was so nervous, and I was like, ‘Man, this is Opening Day for me, Craw,’” said Nootbaar, who rehabilitated his swing against Single-A pitchers and in Minor League games with Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Springfield. “Being around these guys, we have such a great group, and they kind of lift me up. And I really missed them, so I was excited for this.”

Arenado, the Cardinals superstar third baseman, wiped out a season’s worth of struggles with a 425-foot home run in the first inning that gave St. Louis a 3-0 lead. For Arenado, it was his first home run since Aug. 19, 2023 -- a span of 39 games without a long ball.

“I think that’s the first ball I’ve hit to the outfield this season,” joked Arenado, who was 3 for 5 with three RBIs. “I hit it really well and it felt really good. I’m just happy to come through because I’ve had some opportunities to drive in some guys, so it felt good to come through for these guys.”

As happy as Arenado was to get his first home run in seven months, he was almost equally excited about Nootbaar rejoining the Cardinals. The two Southern California natives are the best of friends. They hit together and surf together throughout the offseason. They were planning to celebrate their lengthy home runs together late Friday night. As someone who burns especially hot and tends to be hard on himself when he struggles, Arenado said he appreciates having the fun-loving, light-hearted Nootbaar back around the team.

“Not only just his performance but what he brings to the clubhouse is huge for us,” Arenado said of his friend. “He’s someone I talk to and bounce things off all the time. We’re all happy to have him back.”

When informed that Nootbaar’s 438-foot smash in the third inning -- one that left the bat at a scorching 110.3 mph and easily sailed over the bullpen in right field -- traveled 13 feet farther than his first-inning homer, Arenado said sheepishly: “I know that his went farther. He hits the ball a little harder than I do, but it’s OK.”

When the Cardinals broke camp in late March and headed for the West Coast, Nootbaar was anything but OK. He stayed behind with injured outfielder Tommy Edman and rehabilitating pitchers Sonny Gray and Keynan Middleton. He wished to be with his teammates at Dodger Stadium, the historic ballpark where he dreamed of playing someday. Even though he texted with teammates daily and took several calls from manager Oliver Marmol, Nootbaar said the mental wear and tear of being injured was almost more taxing than the physical part of his rehab.

“When those guys took off for Arizona [and later Los Angeles], I think it was a Sunday and me and Sonny [Gray] and some of the other guys, we were hurting, man,” Nootbaar said. “One of the guys who works with us was like, ‘We should have just not had you come in today.’ You feel bad.

“Nolan texted me last week and said, ‘Bro, I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever!’ I was like, ‘It’s because you haven’t!’ I just love being back around these guys because they are so much fun.”