Fans and admirers of Shohei Ohtani, the once-in-10-generations baseball phenom, will soon be given an unprecedentedly intimate look at this life and career in Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream, the first official documentary about the Los Angeles Angels ace pitcher and homerun slugger. The film has been set for release on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally on Nov. 17.
The feature documentary, directed and edited by Toru Tokikawa, is said to include Ohtani’s first in-depth interviews about his background and how he nurtured and pushed his unique talent to become, arguably, the most impressive two-way baseball player since Babe Ruth. The documentary also includes interviews and appearances by the coaches, players, managers, mentors and baseball heroes that have influenced him.
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“I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my journey in this documentary,” Ohtani says in a statement shared by Disney. “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.”
Beyond to Dream takes an introspective look at Ohtani’s career, from his humble beginnings in rural Japan, through his journey to becoming a two-way player, the start of his professional career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and his long-awaited transition to the MLB with the Los Angeles Angels. After an injury-hampered 2019 and 2020 that raised skepticism among some analysts about his potential, Ohtani silenced the doubters for good with a historic 2021 season. He became the first player in MLB history with over 10 home runs and 20-plus stolen bases as a hitter, and more than 100 strikeouts and 10-plus pitching appearances, winning the American League’s most valuable player trophy. His 2022 and 2023 seasons were just as stunning and statistically historic.
In describing the doc, Disney says, “Ohtani reflects 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.”
Ohtani is currently recovering from a torn UCL in his throwing arm and won’t be able to pitch in the 2024 season. But thanks to his dual-hitting skills, he is nonetheless expected to be one of the most coveted players in baseball when he hits the free-agent market this offseason.
