2023 Pan American Games

The 2023 Pan American Games was held in Chile, from October 18 to 28, 2023. Host  Chile was playing in their first Pan American Games baseball tournament. Joining them were  Colombia (champion of the 2021 Junior Pan American Games),  Brazil (champion of the 2022 South American Championship), a team from the 2023 Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament ( Panama),  Dominican Republic (unclear how they qualified; it was originally announced as the top WBSC-ranked team, which would have been the USA) and the top three teams from the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games ( Mexico,  Cuba and  Venezuela). Baseball was the only event played across every day of the '23 Pan American Games.

See also 2023 Pan American Games (Rosters)

Games

October 18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Mexico	2	0	8	6	0	16	13	1
Chile	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Win: Wilmer Ríos (1-0) Loss: Patrick Germann (0-1)

Chile's debut was expected to be tough and it sure was as they get no-hit in a five-inning mercy rule rout at the hands of the 2023 Central American and Caribbean champs. Wilmer Ríos, Faustino Carrera, Francisco Haro, Samuel Zazueta and Jesús Cruz team up on the whitewash, allowing only one walk (to LF José Hernández) preventing a perfect game. RF Fernando Villegas Jr. has three hits and three RBI, 1B Roberto Ramos three walks and three runs and 3B Emmanuel Ávila three hits.

October 19

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Panama	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	4	8	0
Dominican Republic	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
Win: Harold Araúz (1-0) Loss: Porfirio López (0-1) Save: Severino González (1)

CF Jhonny Santos drives in a pair as Panama takes their opener, thanks to the strong pitching of Steven Fuentes, Harold Araúz and Severino González. The Dominicans' only run comes when 1B Darlin Germán drives in 3B Deivi Muñoz.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	3
Brazil	0	3	0	0	0	0	x	3	5	3
Win: Felipe Natel (1-0) Loss: Sergio Velis (0-1) Save: Oscar Nakaoshi (1)

Brazil starts off with a nice upset. DH Salomon Koba opened the second with a hit off Sergio Velis and was bunted over by LF Fabio Murakami. SS Lucas Rojo singled and an error on the play by LF made it 1-0. After an out, RF Ariel Frigo and 3B Pedro Okuda both singled to make it 3-0. Felipe Natel blanked Venezuela for the first four before three straight hits from LF Omar Carrizales, C Juan Torres and 2B Rayder Ascanio - the last three hitters in the lineup. Oscar Nakaoshi blanked Venezuela for the final three innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

October 20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Colombia	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	3	7	1
Cuba	1	0	2	0	1	0	x	4	8	0
Win: Renner Rivero (1-0) Loss: Jorge Martínez (0-1) Save: Frank Álvarez (1)

This was a close back-and-forth affair and all the teams had now begun play. In the top of the first, Cuba got to Randy Consuegra. CF Roel Santos led off with a single and SS Erisbel Arruebarruena had a two-out single. DH Dayán García singled in Santos and LF Luis González walked to load the bases but Consuegra struck out 1B Yasniel González to hold Cuba to one run. Colombia tied it in the second when C Carlos Martínez went deep off Yoennis Yera.

In the bottom of the third, Cuba also had a solo shot as 3B Roberto Baldoquín hit one out to deep left. After RF Yoelkis Guibert singled, Hernando Mejía relieved Consuegra. He hit Arruebarruena and García then Luis González grounded in a run to make it 3-1. In the top of the 4th, Colombia tied it up again. 2B Carlos Arroyo doubled and 3B Fabián Pertuz homered. Renner Rivero, Yankiel Mauris and Frank Álvarez kept Colombia off the board the rest of the way.

In the 5th, Cuba broke the tie. With one away, Luis González singled off Jorge Martínez, the 4th Colombian hurler. Yasniel González singled him to third. C Andrys Pérez took a four-pitch walk to load the bags. Kevin Escorcia relieved and 2B Yadil Mujica hit into a run-scoring force for the game-winner.

October 21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Mexico	0	0	1	0	0	0	x	1	3	0
Win: Luis Miranda (1-0) Loss: Gerson Garabito (0-1) Save: Jesús Cruz (1)

The Dominicans get eliminated from medal contention with today's loss and Panama's win in the afternoon game, while Mexico managed just enough offense to win. Luis Miranda allows two hits and two walks in 5 1/3 IP and Jesús Cruz fans 3 in 1 2/3 IP for the save (Samuel Zazueta facing one batter in between the duo). Gerson Garabito was nearly as sharp, allowing the game's lone run in the 3rd. C Alexis Wilson singled, CF Randy Romero hit into a force and LF Norberto Obeso singled, then a wild pitch scored Romero with the winner. 1B Darlin Germán had two hits in a losing cause.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Chile	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Panama	2	0	0	0	4	0	x	6	8	1
Win: Luis Ramos (1-0) Loss: Sebastián Vega (0-1)

Panama secured a spot in the semifinals, while host Chile managed their first Pan American Games and allowed ten fewer runs than in their opener. Chile got two men in scoring position in the first but failed to score; CF [[Anderson Castro] (Chile)|Anderson Castro]] got their first hit in a Pan Am Games with his third-inning single. Luis Ramos, Julio Denis, Davis Romero and Abdiel Saldaña shut out Chile, while veteran RF Luis Castillo went 4-for-4 with two runs.

October 22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	2	2	8	10	1
Colombia	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	2	1	7	9	4
Win: Oscar Nakaoshi (1-0) Loss: Jorge Martínez (0-2) Save: Gabriel Barbosa (1)

Colombia again suffers a one-run loss in the first extra-inning contest of these Games, one that looked like a pitching duel early only to end up as a high-scoring affair. Daniel Missaki pf Brazil and Colombia's Julio Vivas traded goose eggs for the first four and a half innings. In the bottom of the 5th, RF Derwin Pomare walked and DH Leandro Emiliani singled. With Missaki seemingly flagging, Brazil turned to Murilo Gouvêa but 1B Jorge Puerta greeted him with a run-scoring single. SS Francisco Acuña bunted into a force at third and C Carlos Arroyo smacked a three-run homer to put Colombia in control, 4-0.

Once Vivas left in the 6th, though, Brazil struck back against Carlos Díaz. 3B Pedro Okuda reached on a Puerta error and 1B Victor Mascai singled. Colombia next tried Jhon Peluffo on the hill and CF Paulo Orlando (16 years after his Pan Am Games debut) doubled down the line to bring in Okuda. DH Salomon Koba singled and an error on the play made it 4-3. After LF Fabio Murakami singled, Rubén Galindo became Colombia's 3rd hurler of the inning. Unlike his predecessors, he retired a batter as he struck out 2B Lucas Rojo. C Gabriel Do Carmo then hit into a double play to end the rally.

After Eric Pardinho went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 6th, Brazil continued their comeback in the 7th. SS Felipe Mizukosi, the #9 hitter, singled, and RF Ariel Frigo bunted him over. Okuda bunted the runner to third and Mscai's fly was misplayed for an error by LF Dilson Herrera, a former major leaguer, to tie the game. Colombia got two on in the bottom of the inning but Pardinho retired #3 hitter 3B Fabián Pertuz and cleanup hitter C Carlos Martínez to force extra innings. In the top of the 8th, Colombia turned to Ezequiel Zabaleta. Brazil pinch-hit with André Rienzo, who had two at-bats in his three seasons as a big-league pitcher, but he came through here with a bunt single to load the bases (WBSC rules called for two starting runners in extra innings). Murakami grounded into a 5-2 force at home but Martínez threw the ball away for a two-run miscue, Colombia's fourth error of the game. Zabaleta got the next two batters but his team was now down, 6-4, for their first deficit of the game.

Colombia staged their own comeback in the bottom of the 8th. Herrera's double off Oscar Nakaoshi scored the two starting runners and they now had the winning run in scoring position with no outs. CF Jesús Marriaga bunted Herrera to third. NPB veteran Nakaoshi escaped further trouble when he retired Pomare and struck out new DH José Ramos (he had pinch-run for Emiliani earlier) to keep Brazil in the game. Colombia tried their sixth pitcher, Jorge Martínez, but like everyone since Vivas, he failed to complete an inning without a run coming in. He began well by striking out Mizukosi and Frigo but walked Okuda to load the bases and Mascai made him pay with a two-run single for a 8-6 Brazilian lead. Orlando struck out to end the top of the 9th and Brazil's bullpen was given another chance to close it out. Puerta bunted the starting runners over and Acuña singled in one, putting the tying run on third and the winning run on first. Brazil turned to Rockies farmhand Gabriel Barbosa. He promptly struck out Arroyo and Pertuz to save the win for Nakaoshi as Brazil had started 2-0.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	5	10	1
Venezuela	0	6	0	0	0	0	x	6	12	3
Win: Nivaldo Rodríguez (1-0) Loss: Carlos Juan Viera (0-1) Save: Andrés Sotillet (1)

Cuba had a shot to clinch a spot in the semifinals (which also would have clinched a spot for Brazil) with a win but they fell just short. Former Astros hurler Nivaldo Rodríguez surrendered three in the top of the first but Venezuela stormed back with a six-run second off Carlos Juan Viera, Naykel Cruz and Yankiel Mauris (though the latter was not charged with any of the runs). A two-run pinch-hit homer by Yurisbel Gracial in the 6th brought Cuba closer but they couldn't tack on any more runs.

October 23

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Panama	0	0	0	0	3	1	4	8	8	1
Mexico	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	8	4
Win: Luis Machuca (1-0) Loss: Aldo Montes (0-1) Save: Severino González (2)

The two unbeaten teams in the pool square off before they go on to the semifinals. After three shutout innings apiece by Panama's Manuel Campos and Mexico's Darel Torres, Mexico scores a pair in the 4th. Five Panamanian relievers shut down them after that, though, while Panama scores 8 runs in 3 innings off Mexico's bullpen after Torres leaves. SS Eduardo Thomas Jr. reaches three times, scores two and drives in one for Panama while 3B Emmanuel Ávila has two hits for the North Americans.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Chile	0	0	1	1	0	2	2	1
Dominican Republic	6	0	1	3	2	12	12	2
Win: Edwin Adón (1-0) Loss: Manuel Zapata (0-1)

Both teams have something to take away from this one - the Dominicans' first win of the tournament, while the hosts score their first Pan American Games runs. 3B Deivi Muñoz (3 R), RF Sandro Fabian (3-for-3, 2 2B) and LF Wildert Pujols (3 RBI) lead the Dominican offense in the mercy rule win. Chile's first run comes when LF Allan Chu triples and is singled in by P Manuel Zapata.

October 24

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Brazil	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	4	9	1
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	3	3
Win: Felipe Natel (2-0) Loss: José Rodríguez (0-1) Save: Eric Pardinho (1)

Brazil had not played in a Pan American Games in baseball since 2007 and had never finished higher than 5th. They faced a Cuban team that had won a record 12 Gold Medals, six times as many as runner-up Canada. Despite those historic track records, it was Brazil that prevailed to move into the semifinals (clinching their best finish ever in the event) while Cuba took the loss.

The South Americans got to José Rodríguez in the second when LF Fabio Murakami singled, was bunted over, took third on a two-out error by 2B Yadil Mujica and came home on another miscue, this one by SS Roberto Baldoquín. In the 5th, they got a fair bit of insurance. 1B Victor Coutinho had a one-out single off reliever Erly Casanova and CF Paulo Orlando and DH Salomon Koba singled as well to make it 2-0. Casanova was yanked after retiring only one of four batters, replaced by Renner Rivero. Murakami singled in Orlando, though Koba was thrown out trying to advance further. 2B Lucas Rojo doubled in Murakami, chasing Rivero as well.

After beating the Venezuelans in the opener, Brazil turned again to Japanese industrial league veteran Felipe Natel and he held Cuba hitless in 4 2/3 IP, though he walked three. Former big leaguer André Rienzo relieved him and allowed Cuba's first run in the 6th when DH Yurisbel Gracial drew a two-out walk and 3B Dayán García tripled him in. Enzo Sawayama took over for Rienzo in the 7th to try to close it out but he allowed a hit to 1B Raúl González (only Cuba's second hit!) and a walk to PH Yasniel González. Brazil next tried Blue Jays farmhand Eric Pardinho. He got one out then CF Roel Santos singled in a run to make it 4-2 and put the tying run aboard with the winning run at the plate. Pardinho prevailed, getting Mujica to hit into a game-ending double play, Coutinho to SS Felipe Mizukosi then back to Coutinho.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Colombia	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	7	1
Venezuela	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	10	0
Win: Víctor Vargas (1-0) Loss: José Guzmán (0-1) Save: Rubén Galindo (1)

Colombia, having dropped their first two games, explodes early to make a three-way tie at 1-2 in their pool; they win the tiebreaker, eliminating Venezuela and Cuba. As a result, none of the four teams in the semifinals had won a Pan American Games Gold in baseball before! Defending champion Puerto Rico and 2011-2015 champion Canada both failed to quality, 12-time champion Cuba was headed to the 5th-place game, 1967 champion USA did not send a team (just like they hadn't in 2019), 1959 champion Venezuela was playing in the 7th-place game and 1955 champion Dominican Republic was playing in the 5th-place game.

Venezuela needs three pitchers to make it through the first inning, with LF Dilson Herrera's bases-loaded triple the big hit. That gave Colombia all the runs they would need as their six hurlers held Venezuela to two runs, stranding numerous runners. 1B Osman Marval had three hits in a losing cause.

October 25

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Chile	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
Venezuela	4	0	1	0	1	1	x	7	8	0
Win: Jose Martinez (1-0) Loss: Sebastián Vega (0-2)

Brayan Salaya and four relievers hold the hosts to three hits in the 7th/8th place game. CF Eduardo Díaz falls a triple shy of a cycle, scores three and drives in three to power the offense. C Benjamín Meza reaches all three times up for Chile.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Brazil	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	5	7	2
Panama	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	3	10	0
Win: Oscar Nakaoshi (2-0) Loss: Abdiel Saldaña (0-1) Save: Eric Pardinho (2)

Brazil, having already clinched their best Pan American Games finish ever, headed to the Gold Medal Game in an exciting one. 1B Victor Coutinho got it going with a two-out homer in the first off Steven Fuentes, but Fuentes allowed only one more hit over the next 4 2/3 IP. Panama tied it in the bottom of the second against Murilo Gouvêa: LF Abraham Rodríguez singled, CF Jhonny Santos hit into a force, C Carlos Sánchez singled and SS Eduardo Thomas Jr. hit into an error. 3B Jorge Bishop singled to load the bags but Gouvêa escaped further harm. André Rienzo pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief, followed by one from Oscar Nakaoshi.

With it still 1-1 entering the 7th, DH Salomon Koba singled off Abdiel Saldaña and Lucas Sakay pinch-ran. LF Fabio Murakami singled and Panama turned to closer Severino González, but the former major leaguer was not as sharp this time. 2B Lucas Rojo bunted and reaches when they tried to get another runner but failed, loading the bags. Osvaldo Carvalho Jr. smacked a pinch-hit a three-run double. After two outs, 3B Pedro Okuda singled in a 5th run.

Panama didn't give up. PH José Mordock opened the bottom of the inning with a double off Nakaoshi and 2B Edgar Muñoz went deep. Eric Pardinho relieved and got one out, then RF Luis Castillo and DH Erasmo Caballero both singled. Rodríguez grounded them over to put the potential tying run in scoring position. Pardino fell behind Santos 3-0 then got three straight strikes to earn the save.

October 26

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	1
Colombia	2	0	5	0	3	0	x	10	12	1
Win: Julio Vivas (1-0) Loss: Wilmer Ríos (1-1)

The 2023 Central American and Caribbean champs fall to 0-2 in the super round standings with a big loss to Colombia. C Carlos Martínez goes 3 for 4 with a run and two RBI to lead a potent Colombian offense.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	11	2
Dominican Republic	1	0	1	1	0	0	2	5	8	1
Win: Hansel Paulino (1-0) Loss: Carlos Juan Viera (0-2)

Cuba ties their lowest finish (from the 2019 Games), while the Dominicans fare the best of any former champion by winning the 5th/6th place game.

Porfirio López had a rocky day, allowing eight hits in 1 1/3 IP. CF Roel Santos opened the game with a single and RF Yoelkis Guibert and 3B Roberto Baldoquín also singled; combined with an error on the latter play, that made it 2-0. LF Ricardo Céspedes threw out Baldoquín trying to score on the inning's fourth hit to prevent it getting worse.

The Dominicans got one in the bottom of the first against Yoennis Yera. 3B Deivi Muñoz singled, CF Elier Hernández doubled and DH Darlin Germán hit a sacrifice fly. Cuba built their lead in the second. With one out, SS Luis Mateo singled, as did Santos, Guibert and Baldoquín for a 4-1 lead. The Dominicans yanked López and six relievers held Cuba to three hits and no runs the remainder of the way.

Cuba's lead shrunk to two in the third when 2B Víctor Luna doubled and Muñoz singled him in. It became 4-3 in the 4th as Germán reached on a two-base error, 1B Xavier Batista singled and RF Sandro Fabian hit into a double play to score a run. It remained 4-3 until the bottom of the 7th. Cuba went to Carlos Juan Viera to close it out and PH Kelvin Pena drew a one-out walk. Muñoz hit a fly to left but Luis González dropped it, putting men in scoring position. Elier Hernández made them pay with a two-run game-winning single. It was the fifth straight fifth-place Pan American Games finish for the Dominicans.

October 27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Colombia	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	9	3
Panama	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	0
Win: Rubén Galindo (1-0) Loss: Severino González (0-1)

Colombia faced off with Panama, which had once been part of Colombia, for the last spot in the Gold Medal Game. Both teams had good scoring opportunities in the first, loading the bases with one out, but both Harold Araúz (Panama) and Randy Consuegra (Colombia) escaped their respective jams. In the second, Panama got to Consuegra with three straight singles from 3B Enoc Watts, SS Eduardo Thomas Jr. and 2B Edgar Muñoz. Jorge Martínez and three other relievers would shut out Panama over the final 5 1/3 innings, giving up three hits in that period.

For his part, Araúz blanked Colombia for four, then Panama turned to Manuel Campos. He pitched a scoreless 5th, but in the 6th, 2B Carlos Arroyo and 3B Fabián Pertuz both singled. C Carlos Martínez singled in PR José Ramos. Panama turned to Severino González, who ended the inning without letting either inherited runner across. With one out in the 7th, SS Francisco Acuña singled off González and Ramos drew a walk. Pertuz singled for a 2-1 lead. Colombia's Rubén Galindo closed it out but not without some stress. RF Luis Castillo reached on a Ramos error and C Carlos Sánchez had a one-out single but CF Jhonny Santos grounded into a game-ending double play, sending Panama to face Mexico in the Bronze Medal Game. Colombia joined Brazil in ensuring their best Pan American Games finishes ever while Panama maintained their shot at their first medal and Mexico had a chance to match their best finish.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Mexico	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	5	9	1
Brazil	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	4
Win: Francisco Haro (1-0) Loss: Gabriel Barbosa (0-1)

This one would not affect who moved into which medal game, but it did knock Brazil from being the only unbeaten team. C Fernando Flores had two hits and two RBI while four Mexican hurlers combined on a four-hitter, fanning nine and allowing one run (unearned). CF Paulo Orlando drove in SS Lucas Sakay with Brazil's only run, while 2B Lucas Rojo had a forgettable day with four errors by the former Phillies farmhand.

October 28

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Mexico	0	1	0	6	0	1	2	10	14	1
Panama	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	6	2
Win: Luis Miranda (2-0) Loss: Davis Romero (0-1)

Mexico broke their tie with Puerto Rico for most Bronze Medals in the event, with their 5th (and first in 16 years), also avenging their earlier loss to Panama. SS Jasson Atondo went 5-for-5 with 3 doubles, 2 runs and 3 RBI to pace a strong offense while Luis Miranda, Darrel Torres and Samuel Zazueta did well on the hill. Former Blue Jays hurler Davis Romero didn't make it through the 4th, while RF Abraham Rodríguez was a bright spot by driving in one Panamanian run and scoring the other.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Colombia	1	0	1	3	1	2	1	9	17	1
Brazil	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0
Win: Víctor Vargas (2-0) Loss: Felipe Natel (2-1)

Two teams that had never won a Gold or Silver before would face off in the Gold Medal Game. Colombia steamrolled their way to victory today, completing an amazing comeback from a 0-2 start to the tournament by winning their last four games. LF Dilson Herrera rapped three hits and DH Carlos Arroyo had two runs and two RBI as Felipe Natel's superb run comes to an end after he had beaten Venezuela and Cuba (though his bullpen fared worse than he did today). Víctor Vargas and three relievers combined on a four-hitter, with Brazil's only run coming when SS Felipe Mizukosi drives in DH Osvaldo Carvalho Jr.

The event reinforced the increasing parity in international baseball tournaments, following the 2023 European Championship's unusual Spain-Britain finale, while traditional powers Italy and the Netherlands finished lower as well as the Central American and Caribbean Games, which witnessed Mexico winning its first Gold in that event.