Panama’s Federales de Chiriqui have announced their roster for the 2026 Caribbean Series at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
The club, which is representing Panama’s ProBeis winter league, announced 13 pitchers, three catchers, four outfielders, and six infielder, including former Major League Baseball players Johan Camargo and Christian Bethancourt. Manager Jose Mayorga’s roster for the Caribbean Series largely parallels the group he’ll bring to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, save for active MLB players Edmundo Sosa, Ivan Herrera, and Jose Caballero.
Pitchers Paolo Espino, Humberto Mejia, and Severino Gonzalez bring MLB experience to the pitching staff, while Harold Arauz, Steven Fuentes, Alberto Guerrero, Abdiel Mendoza, Abdiel Saldana, and Ernesto Silva have all made previous appearances at the Caribbean Series. Nine of the 13 pitchers did not play winter ball this season, though, and Arauz, Fuentes, and Silva haven’t seen high-level action since 2024. Expect former San Francisco Giants farmhand Jorge Garcia and Abdiel Saldana, who each made 11 starts for the Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela this winter, to get a start during the round robin, with Abdiel Mendoza and Kevin Miranda likely getting the other two starts.
Bethancourt will almost certainly be doing the bulk of the catching, with Giants farmhand Adrian Sugastey likely getting some time behind the plate as well. Sugastey batted .231/.284/.343 with eight homers and 37 RBIs at Double-A Richmond last year, and will get his first taste of high-level winter ball in Guadalajara.
Panama’s infield will be anchored by former MLBers Camargo and Ruben Tejada. Tejada played five games in LIDOM for the Toros del Este this year and batted .248 in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol with Tabasco and Durango last year. Jean Arnaez, Ryan Burrowes, and Joshwan Wright have all risen as high as High-A, while Abraham Rodriguez played in the Arizona Complex League for the Chicago Cubs prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
In the outfield, prospect Jose Ramos, 25, will be a key player for Panama. The former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect was signed by the New York Mets in November after hitting .295/..359/.557 at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Ramos will go to spring training with the Mets this year and has a real shot at making the roster as a depth outfielder. Jhonny Santos has played in six Caribbean Series for Panama, and will bring that experience to an otherwise young Panama team.
Federales de Chiriqui Caribbean Series Roster
Pitchers
Harold Arauz
Paolo Espino
Steven Fuentes
Jorge Garcia
Miguel Gomez
Severino Gonzalez
Alberto Guerrero
Humberto Mejia
Abdiel Mendoza
Kevin Miranda
Abdiel Saldana
Enrique Saldana
Ernesto Silva
Catchers
Christian Bethancourt
Erasmo Caballero
Adrian Sugastey
Infielders
Jean Arnaez
Ryan Burrowes
Johan Camargo
Abraham Rodriguez
Ruben Tejada
Joshwan Wright
Outfielders
Luis Castillo
Pedro Catuy
Jose Ramos
Jhonny Santos
Coaching/Training Staff
Jose Mayorga – Manager
Gabriel Luckert – Pitching Coach
Luis Caballero – Bench Coach/Third Base Coach
Ricardo Medina – Hitting Coach
Earl Agnoly – First Base Coach
Juan Caballero – Trainer
Pacifico de Leon – Clubhouse Manager
Efrain Sang – General Manager
Photo: Jose Mayorga managed the Federales de Chiriquí of Panama at the Serie del Caribe 2024, and will manage them again at the 2026 event in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Luis Gutierrez /Norte Photo/Getty Images)
