Panama will enter the 2026 World Baseball Classic much like they did in 2023.
They won’t be picked by many to advance out of their pool once again, but they’ll be a really competitive team that is capable of playing spoiler, and don’t be surprised if they pull off a couple upsets and advance in 2026.
For the first time in 2023, Panama won a game at the World Baseball Classic after losing its first five games in tournament history. They beat the heavily-favored Chinese Taipei 12-5 on opening night of the tournament and nearly mercy-ruled them in the process. After going 2-2 in Pool A, they missed out on the quarterfinals by losing the tiebreaker, but showed how much of a pesky underdog they can be.
In the 2026 WBC, Panama is back, but will be counting on younger players. Familiar names like Christian Bethancourt and Rubén Tejada, both now in their mid 30s, and taking a lesser role with the national team than they did in 2023.
In the infield, Panama will look slightly different than they did in 2023. The best Panamanian infielder in MLB, Edmundo Sosa, did not play in 2023, but as a proven MLB player in 2025, he should make the roster. He likely will be their starting shortstop and one of the spark plugs on the team. With an OPS+ of 133 in 2025 with the Phillies, he’ll hit near the top of the order and can play just about anywhere on the field.
After a breakout 2024 season in Triple-A in Toronto’s organization, Leonardo Jiménez got the call up to MLB and hit .229/.329/.358 with four homers in 63 games. He likely will be Panama’s starting second baseman. He has not represented Panama internationally since 2016.
Jose Caballero, who was Panama’s starting third baseman at the 2023 WBC, should be in that role once again in 2026. While he would be a plus defender at second, third, and shortstop, there’s nobody else on the roster who can provide his level of defense at third base, and that is why he’s likely to be starter there. Offensively, he has a .673 OPS in 2025 with Tampa Bay.
First base will be the tricky position for Panama, as they don’t have many natural first basemen. With their wealth of options at the catcher position, one of their catchers will likely be moved to first base. The early favorite is Miguel Amaya. He has limited experience playing first base in the minors, and while Ivan Herrera has played first base in the Caribbean Series, as the clear cut best Panamanian catcher in MLB, Herrera should be behind the plate. In 2025, Amaya has a .755 OPS with 3 HR.
Herrera has truly broken out in MLB for the Cardinals as their starting catcher. Before an injury that temporarily sidelined him earlier this season, he had four homers in seven games, including a three-homer game. He had five home runs in his career before this season. He’ll be the starter behind the dish and the best hitter in the lineup.
In the outfield, Panama should have its most firepower. Jose Ramos, one of their best hitters at the 2023 WBC, is breaking out in 2026 in Double-A in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He is tied for the minor league lead with 10 home runs, and fourth in the Texas League in OPS with .999. He has revamped his approach to drive the ball to the opposite field and it is having big results. He will be Panama’s starter in either center or right field.
Allen Córdoba should be the starting left fielder for Panama. He’s off to a fast start in 2025 in Mexico, where he’s hitting .328/.453/.361 in 17 games with the Charros de Jalisco in 2025. Much like many of the players who should make this roster, Córdoba’s biggest strength is his defense and speed. He won the gold glove in center field in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico this past winter and swiped 20 bags in 65 games. He already has 11 stolen bases this season, and his versatility to play left, center, and first base makes him a very valuable part of this team.
The last outfield spot will come down to a choice between a few players, but one who could really stand out is Enrique Bradfield Jr. The Orioles’ No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, he’s the son of a Panamanian father and stole 74 bases in 2024 in the minors. He was off to a fast start in 2025 before an injury disrupted his year. He has an OPS of 1.032 in six games., and de’d be this team’s starting center fielder and potentially the most exciting player, with his ability to change the game on the basepaths.
The bench should feature some of Panama’s top prospects. One of the notable could include Philadelphia Phillies prospect and MLB Pipeline No. 87 prospect, catcher Eduardo Tait. The 18-year-old already has six homers in Single-A with an .807 OPS. He likely wouldn’t receive time behind the plate on this team, but will be competing to get some at-bats as a designated hitter.
Former MLB infielder Rubén Tejada should be a bench player on this team. He started at shortstop at the 2023 WBC and will be one of the veterans on this team. He has an OPS of .727 this season in Mexico.
Reginald Preciado, an infield prospect at High-A in the Cubs’ organization, is a name to watch to crack this roster. A elite defender at third, his defensive versatility could land him a spot on the team with his ability to play all around the infield. The bat is finally making some strides as well. In his last seven games, he’s 10-for-28. If the bat comes long this season, he has an excellent shot of making this roster.
Other bench players to watch to make this team are catcher/first baseman Christian Bethancourt and outfielders Luis Castillo and Johan Camargo.
Panama’s pitching will be a major wild card. Jaime Barría was the ace for Panama at the 2023 World Baseball Classic and figured to play a big role in their rotation in 2026. After a strong winter in the Dominican Republic, the former MLB pitcher has a 2.25 ERA in the hitter-friendly Mexican Baseball League in 16 innings for Unión Laguna.
Ariel Jurado is another name to watch for the rotation. He didn’t pitch in 2023 for Panama but solid chance he does this time. In 2025 in the KBO, Jurado has a 2.21 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 53 innings.
James González has had a strong start to the seasons in Double-A in the Athletics’ organization. He has a 2.15 ERA and has seen his strikeout rate go to 26.8%. After being on the Panama roster in 2023, he’s primed for a much bigger role in 2026.
The final spot in the rotation likely will be Humberto Mejía. The right handed starter is pitching in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons. He has pitched on their farm team and top team. he has a 6.62 ERA in the Central League in 2025.
Another starter to potentially make this team is Guardians’ starter Logan Allen. The son of a Panamanian mother, Allen has a 4.33 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Allen hasn’t publicly expressed an interest in representing Panama yet, but he would be their ace if he does decide to play for them in 2026.
The bullpen for the Panamanians has the potential to be a real strength for this team. Justin Lawrence has suffered an injury and been placed on the 60-day IL and likely won’t be available next year, but there will be plenty ready to step in. One of those will be Padres minor leaguer Miguel Cienfuegos. The Canadian-born lefty of Panamanian descent has been one of the breakout relievers in minor league baseball this season, and was been promoted to Triple-A this week. In Double-A this season, he posted a 1.13 ERA, a career-high 27.4% strikeout rate, a career-low 3.2 BB% and a career-high 1.91 FIP. He nearly played at the 2023 WBC and should be one of Panama’s high leverage relievers.
Alberto Baldonado will be another key high leverage reliever for Panama. The LHP, who pitched in MLB in 2021 with the Nationals, has appeared in NPB for the Yomiuri Giants and for their farm team. He’s currently pitching on the farm where he has a 4.91 ERA and 9 strikeouts in 7 1/3 IP.
Another arm to watch for Panama is RHP Sadrac Franco. He missed 3 full seasons from 2020-2022 because of Covid and Tommy John but had a really strong showing in A ball in 2024 with 16 strikeouts in 8 1/3 IP. The Giants liked him so much that they took him in the second round of the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. He has not disappointed. In High-A, he has a 2.70 ERA for Eugene and has thrown 4 straight scoreless outings. With a fastball in the mid 90’s, he gives Panama a right handed power arm to pair with Cienfuegos and Baldonado.
Projected Panama 2026 WBC Roster
Lineup
CF Enrique Bradfield Jr
2B Edmundo Sosa
C Iván Herrera
RF José Ramos
1B Miguel Amaya
SS Leonardo Jiménez
DH Eduardo Tait
LF Allen Córdoba
|3B José Caballero
Bench
C/1B Christian Bethancourt
OF Luis Castillo
IF Johan Camargo
IF Reginald Preciado
IF Rubén Tejada
OF Jhonny Santos
Rotation
RHP Jaime Barría
RHP Ariel Jurado
LHP James González
RHP Humberto Mejía
Bullpen
LHP Alberto Baldonado
LHP Miguel Cienfuegos
RHP Sadrac Franco
RHP Erian Rodríguez
LHP Andy Otero
RHP Jorge García
RHP Austin Aldeano
RHP Miguel Gómez
RHP Javy Guerra
RHP Harold Araúz
RHP Kevin Miranda
Photo: Ivan Herrera of the St. Louis Cardinals tags out Noelvi Marte of the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning at Busch Stadium on September 30, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. Herrera could be the starting catcher for Panama at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
