A new documentary highlighting Shohei Ohtani’s journey from Japan to becoming a baseball superstar in the same league as the legendary Babe Ruth.
What to expect: Directed and edited by Toru Tokikawa, “Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream” features interviews with the 29-year-old two-way phenom and the people who influenced him in his career, such as coaches, players, managers and mentors, according to ESPN.
The documentary will also highlight Ohtani’s journey from his humble beginnings in Japan, the start of his professional baseball career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and his transition to MLB’s Los Angeles Angels, where he received three consecutive team MVP awards.
Sharing more details: Describing the documentary, Disney shared that “Beyond the Dream” will also show Ohtani reflecting “on his career to date, sharing how he decided to play for the Angels; how he came up with his now famous dream board; what it was like winning the 2023 WBC with Japan; how he overcame past injuries, and so much more.”
How he reacted: In a statement, Ohtani said he is thankful that he was given the opportunity to share his story in the documentary, further noting, “Hearing the stories shared by my childhood heroes has been truly inspiring.”
“I hope this documentary stands as a testament to the importance of resilience, passion and self-belief in the pursuit of excellence,” he added.
Impressive year: While Ohtani’s year was plagued by back-to-back injuries, forcing him to end his season early, the Japanese-born player still left his mark in 2023.
For starters, Ohtani became one of the only two players in baseball history to ever make 100 or more home runs along with 500 or more strikeouts in May, with the other player being the legendary Babe Ruth.
Ohtani was also named two-way MLB all-star for the third consecutive year in July. He also made history in early October by becoming the first Japanese-born MLB home run champion.
When to expect: “Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream” is set for release on ESPN+ in the United States and Disney+ internationally on Nov. 17.
