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)[1] |
| 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
[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.”[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
[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.[6]
- Legend
Win Lose Void or postponed Fixture
2019
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| Panama roster - 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifier | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||
Pitchers
|
Catchers Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
| ||
International Tournaments
[edit]| 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 | ||||||
| 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 | ||
| Total | Round 1 | 3/5 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 57 | 6 | 4 | 52 | 27 | ||
- Bronze
: 2002
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "The Panama Cannonball's Transnational Ties: Migrants, Sport, and Belonging in the Interwar Greater Caribbean".
- ^ "Dutch Minor Leaguer No-Hits Panama". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ "Brazil Shocks Panama in WBC. Chinese Taipei Rolls". 16 November 2012.
- ^ "World Baseball Classic".
- ^ "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.
| Baseball in Panama | |
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| National teams | |
| Competitions |
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| Hosted events | |