Fresh off winning the Serie del Rey with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, 29-year-old outfielder Allen Córdoba announced he will represent his home country of Panama at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to a report from David Salayandia Miranda on Instagram.
Córdoba played 84 games during the 2025 LMB regular season – 60 with the Charros de Jalisco and 24 with the Diablos. He dominated his former team’s pitching staff in the Serie del Rey, finishing the series 7-for-17 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
He last suited up for Panama in February 2024, helping his club finish third at the Caribbean Series in Miami. Córdoba had 11 hits in 38 plate appearances and stole three bases in four attempts. He also played for Panama in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the international tournament that brings together several winter league champions.
Initially signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent in 2013, Córdoba landed with the San Diego Padres in 2016 after the National League West club selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. Despite never playing above rookie ball, Córdoba made the Padres’ 2017 Opening Day roster, and he hit .208/.282/.297 with a .579 OPS and four home runs in 100 games.
Panama’s roster for next year’s WBC is far from complete, but Córdoba should be a boost to the lineup thanks to his speed. He stole 48 bases in 58 attempts this summer in Mexico and swiped 102 bags in 464 games during his minor league career.
José Mayorga will manage Panama for the 2026 WBC, and a few of Córdoba’s teammates will be José Caballero of the New York Yankees and Edmundo Sosa of the Philadelphia Phillies.
A few months ago, Ronny Ramos Jr. of the Panama media company COS reported that Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. expressed interest in playing for Panama at the WBC. However, he was diagnosed with a torn right ACL on Sept. 1 and will be out for several months.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr Showing Interest in Representing Panama at 2026 WBC
Panama will compete against Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, and Canada in Pool A of the 2026 WBC at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The action kicks off on March 6 and concludes five days later in preparation for the WBC’s quarterfinals.
Allen Cordoba of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico steps on second base after hitting a home run in game three of the 2025 Serie del Rey. The Diablos beat the Charros de Jalisco 7-2. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
