SPIEZIO
A faith-filled documentary exploring the life of MLB player Scott Spiezio.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. This excellent documentary shares Scott Spiezio’s rise through MLB clearly and concisely while detailing his downward spiral into drugs and alcohol. The movie shows how faith brings him back from the brink. It presents Spiezio’s career stats in an accessible way for non-baseball fans and balances sports information with moving stories about his family life and struggles with substance abuse.
The movie includes numerous interviews with Spiezio’s friends and family, giving viewers a complete picture of the MLB star. The documentary highlights his faith and new mission to help others overcome substance abuse and foster relationships with God. These stories inspire and uplift. While SPIEZIO addresses the realities of drug and alcohol abuse and its consequences, it avoids objectionable content, making it an excellent choice for both adults and teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESScott Spiezio dreamed of a baseball career from a very young age. His parents, including his dad, who played in the MLB, inspired him. Spiezio impressed scouts in the minor leagues and earned a call-up to the Majors. He quickly made a name for himself, won the World Series, and became a recognizable pop culture figure. However, fame led him to addiction to alcohol and drugs. Spiezio spiraled downward, lost his family, and lost his baseball career. He needed a miracle to turn his life around, and he found it through his relationship with God.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars for this well-made documentary. Despite its relatively short runtime, the movie effectively shares information, highlighting both the high points of Spiezio’s career and the low points of his substance abuse issues. The documentary clearly communicates details about his baseball career, allowing even non-baseball fans to grasp Spiezio’s talent as a player.
The movie also addresses the rougher aspects of Spiezio’s story. He talks candidly about his drug and alcohol abuse and shares stories illustrating how those addictions impacted his personal relationships. Friends and family members interviewed speak honestly, making this a moving watch.
The Worldview
A strong biblical and Christian worldview drives every corner of this story. Spiezio, his friends, and his family talk about the former MLB player's faith and how it saved him from drug and alcohol abuse. Spiezio mentions his prayer life and his church attendance, and his father explains that God planned for Spiezio to support others who struggle with addiction.
Spiezio also shares that he had to learn to find his identity in Christ instead of baseball. A theme of redemption runs through the film as Spiezio overcomes his addictions and goes on to help and inspire others struggling with the same problem.
The documentary covers plenty of conversations about Spiezio's drug and alcohol abuse and the immoral behavior it caused, including infidelity, family abandonment, a hit-and-run, a police chase, and fights. Spiezio expresses remorse and often mentions his guilt over the years he missed with his children, along with his efforts to make amends.
The movie includes one light obscenity but no other objectionable content. Spiezio spent years running from himself. Baseball taught him how to run the bases. Christ taught him how to come home.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Christian worldview, with mentions of prayer, church attendance, miracles, and God’s plan. The main character and his family credit God for the way his life turned around. There are also moral elements, like the main character's commitment to helping others struggling with addiction;
Foul Language
One mild obscenity;
Violence
No violence
Sex
The main character shares that he was unfaithful to his wife and eventually left her;
Alcohol Use
Discussions about a character's alcohol abuse (mentions drinking “a handle” of alcohol a day);
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Discussion about a character snorting cocaine; and,
Miscellaneous Immorality
The main character starts fights with friends and family, runs away from the police after he was involved in a hit-and-run, and is absent from his children’s lives, but this was all due to his addictions, and he apologizes, shows remorse, and is constantly working to be better.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Scott Spiezio is open about his mistakes, and shares his desire to continue to work towards being better. How does his story illustrate the biblical idea of redemption? Philippians 3:13-14
In the documentary, Spiezio’s dad says that the dark parts of his son’s life were all part of God’s plan. Can you think of a moment in your life that was an unexpected part of God’s plan for you? Romans 8:28
Spiezio shares that he still feels guilt and remorse for how his actions affected others during his addiction. Why is confessing your sins and sharing your shame so important to heal? James 5:16
The Final Word
SPIEZIO holds together well as a documentary. The content stays mild enough for most audiences, though parents should know the movie speaks frankly about addiction and infidelity. What makes the story worth the watch is the payoff: a man who lost almost everything and found his way back through grace. Young children should sit this one out, and even teens might need a parent nearby to field a few questions once the credits roll.
