The Panama national baseball team (Spanish: Selección de béisbol de Panamá) also known as "Sancocho Power" is the baseball team that represents Panama at an international level. 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 9th ranked baseball team in the world.
Team Panama will compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March 2026.
History
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.”
Panama was placed in Pool C of the inaugural World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2006, playing at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, 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 mercy rule loss to Netherlands, as Dutch pitcher Shairon Martis threw a no-hitter.
Panama once again played Puerto Rico for the 2009 WBC, 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 WBC, Panama was forced to qualify for the 2013 edition. They were selected as the host for Qualifier 3 and were favored to qualify. 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 WBC. Panama was again forced to qualify for the 2017 edition. They were selected as the host for Qualifier 3. After beating France in their opener, they lost 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.
Panama requalified for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, after again hosting the Americas qualifying tournament at Rod Carew National Stadium. They finished fourth in their group, which qualified them for the 2026 WBC. After winning only one game in 2026, the team was again relegated to the qualifying tournament.
Results and fixtures 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.
Legend
2019
2022
2023
2026
Current roster
International tournaments record World Baseball Classic YearRoundPosition 2006 Group stage 14th 0 3 7 20 No qualifiers held 2009 Group stage 15th 0 2 0 16 2013 Did not qualify 2 2 17 13 2017 2 2 20 14 2023 Group stage 13th 2 2 19 21 2 0 15 0 2026Group stage17th131114 Automatically qualified Total Round 1 4/6 3 10 37 71 6 4 52 27
WBSC Premier12
YearResultPositionRanking2015Did not qualify2019 2024 Opening Round 5th 5 3 2 22 25 10th 2027 To be determined Total Opening Round 1/3 5 2 2 22 25
Baseball World Cup Silver : 2003 Bronze : 1945, 2005
Central American Games Gold : , Silver : 1977, 2013, 2017
Intercontinental Cup Bronze : 2002
Central American and Caribbean Games Silver : , , 2002 Bronze : 1930, 1959, 1982
U-15 Baseball World Cup Silver : : 4th
U-23 Baseball World Cup 2016: 4th 2021: 5th
Bolivarian Games Gold : 2001, 2009, 2013 Silver : 1981, 1985, 1989, 2017 Bronze : 1951, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1973
References
External links Welcome to Panama at ESPN January 17, 2006.