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Panama national baseball team
Panama national baseball team
Information
Country	Panama
Federation	Federación Panameña de Béisbol
Confederation	WBSC Americas
Manager	Luis Ortiz
WBSC ranking
Current	8 2 (27 November 2024)
Highest	12 (first in March 2020)
Lowest	15 (first in December 2016)
World Baseball Classic
Appearances	3 (first in 2006)
Best result	Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2023)
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.^[1]

History

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.”^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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

Results and fixtures

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.^[6]

Legend

Win Lose Void or postponed Fixture

2019

Pan American Games Q	January 29	Panama	1–5	Canada	Academia CBBS, Brazil
	15:00 BRT		Boxscore

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

2022

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

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

Panama roster - 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Players

Coaches

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

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

World Baseball Classic record								Qualification record
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		No qualifiers held
2013	Did not qualify							2	2	17	13
2017	Did not qualify							2	2	20	14
2023	Round 1	11th	2	2	19	21	2	0	15	0
Total	Round 1	3/5	2	7	26	57	6	4	52	27