Panama national baseball team

Information
Country|  Panama
Federation| Panamanian Baseball Federation (FEDEBEIS)
Confederation| WBSC Americas
Manager| José Mayorga[1]
WBSC ranking
Current|  8  (31 December 2024)[2]
Highest| 8 (first in November 2024)
Lowest| 15 (first in December 2016)
World Baseball Classic
Appearances| 4 (first in 2006)
Best result| Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2023)
WBSC Premier12
Appearances| 1 (first in 2024)
Best result| 5th (2024)
World Cup
Appearances| 26 (first in 1941)
Best result|  2nd (2003)
Pan American Games
Appearances| 6 (first in 1983)
Best result| 4th (2023)

The Panama national baseball team (Spanish: Selección de béisbol de Panamá) is the baseball team that represents Panama at an international level. Along with Nicaragua, they are considered to be the best baseball team in Central America, and one of the best in Latin America. Panama has medalled at multiple international tournaments at both junior and senior levels throughout the sport's history, including one silver medal and two bronze medals at the Baseball World Cup. They are currently the 14th ranked baseball team in the world.[2]

## History

[edit]

Towns including Colón and Panama City in the Canal Zone had one or more clubs in which British West Indian middling classes played cricket. Cricket became a prime symbol of what Afro-Caribbeans knew made them “Britishers.” As decolonization progressed, the popularity of baseball increased in Panama. The similarity in skills required for cricket and baseball meant that an athlete who primarily practiced one sport could also excel in the other. Oscar Levy was a baseball player who had left Panama in 1920 for the United States. In 1928 the Panama Tribune reported on the success of “famous local pitcher” Chick Levy as a “hero in Cuba.”[3]

Panama was placed in Pool C of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, playing at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. In their opening game, they fell to hosts, 2-1, before losing to Cuba, 8-6, in extra innings. They concluded play with a 10-0, 7-inning loss to Netherlands, failing to get a hit off Dutch pitcher Shairon Martis.[4]

Panama once again was sent to Puerto Rico for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, this time as part of the double-elimination Pool D. They opened their campaign with a 7-0 defeat to Puerto Rico, setting up an elimination game against the Dominican Republic, which they lost 9-0. Having failed to score a single run, Panama finished in 15th place overall, just ahead of South Africa.

After finishing last in their pool for the 2009 Classic, Panama was forced to qualify for the 2013 edition. They were selected as the host for Qualifier 3 and were favored to qualify.[5] However, they were upset by Brazil, 3-2, in their opener. After defeating Nicaragua and Colombia in elimination matches, they faced off with Brazil again. Despite having multiple Major League Baseball players to Brazil's one, Panama fell again, 1-0, and missed the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Panama was again forced to qualify for the 2017 edition. They were selected as the host for Qualifier 3. After defeating France in their opener they fell to Colombia. After defeating France again, they set up a rematch with Colombia but lost the elimination game after Colombia's Dilson Herrera hit a late homer.[6]

Panama requalified for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, after again hosting the Americas qualifying tournament at Rod Carew National Stadium.

## Results and fixtures

[edit]

The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[7]

Legend

Win   Lose   Void or postponed   Fixture

### 2019

[edit]

Pan American Games Q | January 29  | Panama  | 1–5  |  Canada | Academia CBBS, Brazil

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15:00 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |
Pan American Games Q | January 30  | Panama  | 4–10  |  Colombia | Academia CBBS, Brazil

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15:00 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |

### 2022

[edit]

World Baseball Classic Q | October 1  | Argentina  | 0–11 (F/7) |  Panama | Rod Carew Stadium, Panama

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19:00 CT | LP: Guido Monis
| Boxscore | WP: Humberto Mejía
HR: Jose Ramos (1)  | Attendance: 5,314
Umpires: HP: Michael Ulloa. 1B: Lisa Turbitt. 2B: Frantisek Pribyl. 3B: Mark Stewart
World Baseball Classic Q | October 4  | Brazil  | 0–4  |  Panama | Rod Carew Stadium, Panama

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19:00 CT | LP: André Rienzo
| Boxscore | WP: Ariel Jurado
HR: Jose Ramos (1), Edgar Munoz (1)  | Attendance: 6,789
Umpires: HP: Austin Jones. 1B: Anthony Perez. 2B: Juan Manuel Rodriguez. 3B: Dane Poncsak

### 2023

[edit]

World Baseball Classic GS | March 8  | Panama  | 12–5  |  Chinese Taipei | Taichung Stadium, Taiwan

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19:00 NST | WP: Randall Delgado (1–0)
| Boxscore | LP: Chih-Wei Hu (0–1)
HR: Nien-Ting Wu (1)  | Attendance: 15,540
Umpires: HP – Roberto Ortiz, 1B – Trent Thomas, 2B – Chris Segal, 3B – Ki Talk Park
World Baseball Classic GS | March 9  | Panama  | 1–3  |  Netherlands | Taichung Stadium, Taiwan

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12:00 NST | LP: Jaime Barría (0–1)
| Boxscore | WP: Shairon Martis (1–0)
Sv: Wendell Floranus (2)
HR: Xander Bogaerts (1), Jurickson Profar (1)  | Attendance: 6,048
Umpires: HP – Larry Vanover, 1B – Roberto Ortiz, 2B – Trent Thomas, 3B – Shōji Arisumi.
World Baseball Classic GS | March 10  | Cuba  | 13–4  |  Panama | Taichung Stadium, Taiwan

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12:00 NST | WP: Miguel Romero (1–0)
| Boxscore | LP: Matt Hardy (0–1)
HR: Rubén Tejada (1)  | Attendance: 7,023
Umpires: HP - Dan Iassogna, 1B - Serge Makouchetev, 2B - Mark Carlson, 3B - Trent Thomas
World Baseball Classic GS | March 11  | Panama  | 2–0  |  Italy | Taichung Stadium, Taiwan

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12:00 NST | WP: Harold Arauz (1–0)
Sv: Javy Guerra (1)
| Boxscore | LP: Michele Vassalotti (0–1)
| Attendance: 7,732
Umpires: HP: Shoji Arisumi. 1B: Larry Vanover. 2B: Trent Thomas. 3B: Chris Segal.

## Current roster

[edit]

Panama roster – 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Players | Coaches
Pitchers

* 49 Harold Araúz
* 25 Alberto Baldonado
* 70 Enrique Burgos
* 48 Randall Delgado
* 23 James González
* 52 Severino González
* 41 Alberto Guerrero
* 18 Matt Hardy
* 57 Ariel Jurado
* 15 Carlos Luna
* 62 Humberto Mejía
* 26 Wilfredo Pereira
* 16 Luis Ramos
* 44 Davis Romero

|  | Catchers

* 80 Pedro Aguilar
* 98 Erasmo Caballero
*  5 Carlos Sanchez

Infielders

*  3 Jonathan Araúz
* 77 José Caballero
* 27 L.J. Jones
* 10 Edgar Muñoz
* 11 Rubén Tejada
* 39 Joshwan Wright

Outfielders

* 89 Luis Castillo
* 13 Allen Córdoba
* 24 Rodrigo Orozco
* 99 Jose Ramos
* 94 Jhonny Santos

|  | Manager

* 21 Luis Ortiz

Coaches

* 56 Len Picota (Bench)
* 47 Julio Rangel (Pitching)
* 95 Hipolito Ortiz (First Base)
* 22 Vicente Garibaldo (Third Base)

## International tournaments record

[edit]

### World Baseball Classic

[edit]

World Baseball Classic record |  | Qualification record

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Year  | Round  | Position  | W | L | RS | RA | W | L | RS | RA
2006 | Round 1 | 14th  | 0  | 3  | 7  | 20  | No qualifiers held
2009 | Round 1 | 15th  | 0  | 2  | 0  | 16
2013 | Did not qualify | 2  | 2  | 17  | 13
2017 | 2  | 2  | 20  | 14
2023 | Round 1 | 11th  | 2  | 2  | 19  | 21  | 2  | 0  | 15  | 0
2026 | To be determined | Automatically qualified
Total  | Round 1  | 4/6  | 2  | 7  | 26  | 57  | 6  | 4  | 52  | 27

### WBSC Premier12

[edit]

WBSC Premier12 record

Year  | Result  | Position  | Pld | W | L | RS | RA | Ranking
2024 | Opening Round  | 5th  | 5  | 3  | 2  | 22  | 25  | 10th
2027 | To be determined
Total  | Opening Round  | 1/3  | 5  | 2  | 2  | 22  | 25  |

### Baseball World Cup

[edit]

* Silver  :  2003
* Bronze  : 1945, 2005

### Central American Games

[edit]

* Gold  : 1997, 2010
* Silver  : 1977, 2013, 2017

### Intercontinental Cup

[edit]

* Bronze  : 2002

### Central American and Caribbean Games

[edit]

* Silver  : 1935, 1938, 2002
* Bronze  : 1930, 1959, 1982

### U-15 Baseball World Cup

[edit]

* Silver  : 2018
* 2016: 4th

### U-23 Baseball World Cup

[edit]

* 2016: 4th
* 2021: 5th

### Bolivarian Games

[edit]

* Gold  : 2001, 2009, 2013
* Silver  : 1981, 1985, 1989, 2017
* Bronze  : 1951, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1973

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/panamas-premier12-manager-jose-mayorga-to-lead-team-at-world-baseball-classic
2. ^ a b "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
3. ^ "The Panama Cannonball's Transnational Ties: Migrants, Sport, and Belonging in the Interwar Greater Caribbean".
4. ^ "Dutch Minor Leaguer No-Hits Panama". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
5. ^ "Brazil Shocks Panama in WBC. Chinese Taipei Rolls". 16 November 2012.
6. ^ "World Baseball Classic".
7. ^ "Panama in the WBSC Ranking (Men's baseball)". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Connor, Joe, Welcome to Panama. ESPN (MLB), January 17, 2006. Retrieved 2009-12-16.

Panama World Baseball Classic rosters

* v
* t
* e

Panama roster – 2006 World Baseball Classic

* 1 Manuel Rodríguez
* 4 Earl Agnoly
* 7 Javier Castillo
* 8 Damaso Espino
* 11 Vicente Garibaldo
* 12 Santos Hernández
* 14 Rubén Rivera
* 15 Olmedo Sáenz
* 16 Carlos Muñoz
* 17 Freddy Herrera
* 18 Paolo Espino
* 22 Bienvenido Cedeño
* 23 Manny Acosta
* 24 Albenis Castillo
* 25 Jorge Cortéz
* 26 Audes de León
* 27 Bruce Chen
* 28 Adolfo Rivera
* 29 Ramón Ramírez
* 30 Orlando Miller
* 31 Miguel Gómez
* 32 Yoni Lasso
* 33 Davis Romero
* 36 Manny Corpas
* 45 Carlos Lee
* 49 César Quintero
* 51 Carlos Ruiz
* 56 Len Picota
* 58 Roger Deago
* 64 Sherman Obando

* v
* t
* e

Panama roster – 2009 World Baseball Classic

* 2 Rubén Tejada
* 4 Earl Agnoly
* 6 Kevin Ramos
* 8 Damaso Espino
* 10 Javier Castillo
* 12 Manuel Campos
* 14 Yeliar Castro
* 15 Rafael Medina
* 16 Abraham Atencio
* 17 Arquimedes Nieto
* 19 César Quintero
* 20 Concepcion Rodriguez
* 21 Paolo Espino
* 22 Ángel Chávez
* 25 Jorge Cortéz
* 26 Audes De Leon
* 27 Bruce Chen
* 28 Rubén Rivera
* 30 Eliecer Navarro
* 35 Avelino Asprilla
* 36 Manny Corpas
* 40 Angel Cuan
* 42 Julio Zuleta
* 45 Carlos Lee
* 51 Carlos Ruiz
* 55 Ramiro Mendoza
* 63 Luis Durango
* 81 Gilberto Méndez

* Manager 11 Héctor López
* Coach 53 Ricardo Medina
* Coach 56 Len Picota
* Coach 24 Allan Lewis
* Coach 43 Luis Ortiz
* Coach 5 Luis Molina

* v
* t
* e

Baseball in Panama

WBSC Americas

Governing bodies|

* Panamanian Baseball Federation

National teams|

* Baseball
* U-18

Competitions|

* Panamanian Professional Baseball League (Probeis)
* Campeonato Mayor (Fedebeis)

Hosted events|

* Caribbean Series
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 2019
* Central American and Caribbean Games
* 1938
* 1970
* World Baseball Classic Qualifiers
* 2013
* 2017
* 2023
* 1963 Interamerican Series
* 2004 Summer Olympic Qualifiers
* 2011 Baseball World Cup
* 2015 Latin American Series

Players in Major League Baseball

* v
* t
* e

National baseball teams of the Americas (WBSC Americas)

North America|

* Canada
* Mexico
* United States

Central America|

* Costa Rica
* Guatemala
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Honduras
* El Salvador

Caribbean|

* Aruba
* Bahamas
* Cuba
* Curaçao
* Dominican Republic
* Jamaica
* Puerto Rico
* Sint Maarten
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States Virgin Islands

South America|

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Ecuador
* Peru
* Venezuela

* v
* t
* e

National sports teams of Panama

* Baseball
* U18
* Basketball
* M
* M U/19
* M U/15
* W U/15
* Beach soccer
* Cricket
* Football
* M
* M U/23
* M U/20
* M U/17
* W
* W U/20
* Futsal
* M
* W
* Rugby union
* Tennis
* M
* W
* Volleyball

* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Pan American Games

*[Pld]: Games Played
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[RS]: Runs scored
*[RA]: Runs allowed
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template