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Panama WBSC Premier12 Roster

 Alex Ortiz - World Baseball Network  |    Oct 7th, 2024 11:00am EDT

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There is only one month until games kick-off for the WBSC Premier12, and Panama has unveiled its preliminary roster for this November. Panama will be led by manager Jose Mayorga. Here is who will be joining Panama in what will feel like a short few weeks.

Joining manager Jose Mayorga on Panama’s coaching staff will be Luis Caballero as the bench coach. Gabriel Luckert will serve as pitching coach with Rodrigo Virgil joining as hitting coach. Ashley Ponce will coach third-base while Dimas Ponce will be the first-base coach. Also, handling duties as bullpen coach will be Pacifico de Leon.

CATCHERS:

• –  Leonardo Bernal
• –  Fernando Gonzalez
• –  Juan Diego Crisp
• –  Robert Mullen
• –  Mario Sanjur

INFIELDERS:

• –  Jean Arnaez
• –  Johan Camargo*
• –  Luis Escudero
• –  Jonathan Arauz*
• –  Carlos Quiroz
• –  Ruben Tejada*
• –  Joshwan Wright

OUTFIELDERS:

• –  Juan Diego Alonso
• –  Luis Castillo
• –  Edgar Munoz
• –  Rodrigo Orozco
• –  Jose Ramos
• –  Abraham Rodriguez
• –  Jhonny Santos
• –  Luis Tello

PITCHERS:

• –  Dario Agrazal*
• –  Alberto Baldonado*
• –  Jaime Barria*
• –  Enrique Burgos Jr.*
• –  Bryan Caceres
• –  Gilberto Chu
• –  Randall Delgado*
• –  Paolo Espino*
• –  Sadrac Franco
• –  Tiedin Frias
• –  Steven Fuentes
• –  Jorge Garcia
• –  Rafael Garcia
• –  Miguel Gomez
• –  Severino Gonzalez*
• –  Javy Guerra*
• –  Alberto Guerrero
• –  Kenny Hernandez
• –  Humberto Mejia*
• –  Abdiel Mendoza
• –  Kevin Miranda

* denotes MLB experience

Panama’s roster has ten players with MLB experience, and most players on Panama’s roster were featured on their 2023 World Baseball Classic roster. It could also be worth keeping an eye on this team to see which players could fight back for a chance at making the MLB.

Anchoring Panama’s rotation will be former Angels hurler Jaime Barria and right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino. Barria began the season within the Guardians organization before being released to pursue an opportunity in the KBO, joining the Hanwha Eagles. In 19 starts in 20 games with the Eagles, Barria held a 6-7 record, posting a 5.15 ERA, striking out 83 batters in 92.2 innings. As for veteran Paolo Espino, he appeared in three games, making one start for the Blue Jays, going 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA, only striking out three batters in eight and two-thirds innings of work.

Southpaw Alberto Baldonado and former infielder will lead their bullpen turned pitcher Javy Guerra. Baldonado, 31, is in his second season with NPB’s Yomiuri Giants. He has been stellar in their bullpen, posting a 2-3 record, a 2.44 ERA, striking out 63 batters in 51.2 innings in 58 games pitched.

Javy Guerra has been fantastic in his first season in Japan as well. Pitching in the Hanshin Tigers bullpen, Guerra owns a 1-4 record and a 1.55 ERA in 59 appearances, punching out 48 batters in 58 innings. Guerra made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2018 as an infielder. He made his pitching debut the following season in 2019.

The WBSC Premier12 Tournament will begin on November 9, 2024. Panama will face the Netherlands in the first game, which will be played at 2 PM at Estadio Panamericano in Guadalajara, Mexico.