This MLB puzzle ran on Nov 3, 2026. The task was to connect Ketel Marte to Drew Pomeranz with a chain of real players. The objective: “Your chain must include a player born in Panama.” Par was 3 links.
Ketel Marte (2B) played in the MLB from 2015 to 2026. Career stops: the Mariners (2015 to 2016) and the Diamondbacks (2017 to 2026). No college is on record for this player. As the Start of the chain, a household name like this gives you a lot of teammates to branch from, which makes it a friendly place to begin.
Drew Pomeranz (RP) played in the MLB from 2011 to 2026. Career stops: the Rockies (2011 to 2013), the Athletics (2014 to 2015), the Red Sox (2016 to 2018), the Padres (2016 to 2021), the Brewers (2019), the Giants (2019), and the Cubs (2025 to 2026), plus 1 more. As the Finish of the chain, a household name like this gives you a lot of teammates to branch from, which makes it a friendly place to begin.
Ketel Marte and Drew Pomeranz do not share a team or a college, so there is no direct link. You need at least one connector in between, and the objective decides which ones are allowed to count.
This was a birthplace objective. At least one player in the chain has to have been born in the named country. Of the 11,807 players in the pool, 63 satisfy it. The best known are Mariano Rivera (RP, 1995 to 2013), Rod Carew (1B, 1967 to 1985), Carlos Lee (OF, 1999 to 2012), Manny Sanguillen (C, 1967 to 1980), Roberto Kelly (OF, 1987 to 2000), and Ben Oglivie (OF, 1971 to 1986).
6 of those players share a team or college with Ketel Marte, and 36 share one with Drew Pomeranz. The Start is the tighter side, so working forward from Ketel Marte narrows the options fastest.
One shortest chain found by searching the full player pool, preferring the best known names at every step:
Many other chains work. Scoring rewards lower-profile connectors, so the best-known route is rarely the highest scoring one.
Want more? Browse the full MLB puzzle archive, read the strategy guides, or see how scoring works on How to Play.