Final Preparations Underway

The Panama national baseball team is entering the final stages of preparation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The team will travel to Tampa, Florida, to face Major League Baseball organizations in a pair of crucial warm-up games.

Upcoming Schedule: Yankees and Tigers

Panama will first face the New York Yankees on Tuesday, March 3, at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The following day, Wednesday, March 4, they will capture on the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Jaime Barría is scheduled to start on the mound against the Tigers.

These games will serve as a litmus test for the coaching staff and players, allowing them to assess their competitive level against professional baseball teams during spring training.

Key Players Commit to National Team

Several players currently in MLB spring training will join the team in Tampa, including Miguel Amaya, Edmundo Sosa, José Caballero, Leonardo Jiménez, Enrique Bradfield Jr., José Ramos, and Leonardo Bernal.

José Caballero, who played for the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees in the 2025 MLB season, has officially committed to representing Panama. He posted a .230/.334/.331 slash line with four home runs across 107 games. Caballero served as Panama’s starting third baseman during the 2023 tournament and is expected to reprise that role in 2026. He stated, I’m always up for playing with my country.

A Family Legacy: Miguel Gómez

Pitcher Miguel Gómez, 24, will carry on a family tradition in the World Baseball Classic. His father, similarly named Miguel Gómez, was part of the first edition of the tournament two decades ago.

Gómez expressed his willingness to contribute in any role, stating, That’s for the manager to decide, but whatever role I acquire, I’m going to be available. We’ve already talked about it and I’m ready to contribute wherever they need me.

He has been working to expand his repertoire, now featuring five pitches, and believes Panama’s pitching staff can adapt to tournament pitch count limitations by attacking the zone.

Tournament Outlook

Following the Florida matchups, the team will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to begin the tournament on March 6 against Cuba. Panama is grouped with Cuba, Canada, Colombia, and host Puerto Rico in Group A. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the quarterfinals.

Team Chemistry and Confidence

Gómez highlighted the strong team chemistry and confidence within the squad, describing it as one of the best groups the team has ever had. We all support each other and feel that this is the team we wanted. Now we have to show it on the field.