Taipei: A documentary on the Taiwan national baseball team's first major international baseball championship at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 is set to premiere across the country on Jan. 1, 2026. Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) and memory and storage manufacturer ADATA Technology Co. co-presented the documentary "Hero! Hito!" at a news conference in Taipei on Monday, marking the first anniversary of the team's historic achievement.
According to Focus Taiwan, CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-chang expressed that the film would resonate with audiences beyond baseball enthusiasts, reflecting Taiwan's international circumstances and the team's breakthrough against adversities. Director Lungnan Isak Fangas aimed to authentically restage the circumstances and players' emotions during the tournament, encouraging viewers to watch the film multiple times to catch subtle details.
The documentary features player interviews conducted in March during the interval between the World Baseball Classic Qualifier and the 2025 regular seasons in Taiwan and the United States. Lungnan also shared hopes for another successful run by Team Taiwan at the 2026 WBC, which could inspire a follow-up documentary.
According to sports betting website DraftKings Sportsbook, Taiwan is tied with Israel and Australia for the 14th-best odds among the 20 teams, with only the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Nicaragua, and Brazil trailing. The United States leads all teams, with Japan and the Dominican Republic following.
Taiwan is set to compete in Pool C in March, facing Japan, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and Australia, with their first game against Australia on March 5.