Rafael Medina

Rafael Eduardo Medina de Leon

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 240 lb.

• Debut April 2, 1998
• Final Game September 26, 1999
• Born February 15, 1975 in Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama

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Biographical Information

Rafael Medina has been a regular on Panama's national team.

Medina starred in the 2003 Baseball World Cup as Panama won its first Silver Medal ever in a Baseball World Cup. Medina went 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 innings. He tied for 5th in the event in strikeouts and tied Norge Vera and Len Picota for the win lead. He was also 2-0 when they won Bronze in the 2005 Baseball World Cup but with a 6.75 ERA; he was one win behind leaders Diegomar Markwell, Shinsuke Saito and Yulieski González.

He allowed 7 baserunners in 4 1/3 IP in qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics but gave up no runs for Panama. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he got the call in a key game against the Italian national team and shut them out for 6 innings on 3 hits and no walks; Medina had previously played in Italy's Serie A1 and had seen some of the batters in action. He threw one more scoreless frame in the Cup to lead Panama's staff in ERA.

In the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Medina faced the final two batters in the loss to Puerto Rico. Relieving Paolo Espino with two on and two out in the 8th, he walked Ivan Rodriguez then got Geovany Soto to fly out.

Brother Ricardo Medina played in the Chicago Cubs organization.