Panama to select team for WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup at National Championship
Panama has started their selection process for the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS during its National Championship in Panama City. The 12-team event is nearing the end of the Opening Round. The top three finishers of each group will compete in the Super Round.
At the end of the tournament, manager José Murillo III will select an expanded roster of 30 players, including 10 pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders, six outfielders, and two utility players.
"We will open the selection camp on June 13 and work out through July 6 to choose the 18-player roster," commented Murillo. "The team will get together on July 8.
Murillo's staff will include pitching coach Luis Ramos, Hipolito Ortiz, Kenny Serracin and Olmedo Fonseca.
Murillo is a former middle infielder who competed at the 1994 Baseball World Cup. He is part of a baseball dynasty. His father, José Murillo II, was his manager at the 1994 World Cup and was on the World Baseball Classic 2013 roster. His son, José Murillo IV, played organised baseball in the Minnesota Twins farm system.
José Murillo III led Pamana Metro to the Youth National Championship Title 2025. He managed Panama at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2017.
The Chinese Taipai Baseball Association (CTBA) will host the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 from July 25 to August 3 in Tainan.
World No. 8 Panama will compete in Group B and face No. 5 USA, No. 6 Korea, No. 11 Dominican Republic, No. 15 Czechia and No. 31 South Africa.
Group A includes No. 1 Japan, No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 4 Mexico, No. 10 Cuba, No. 12 Australia and No. 17 Germany.