In Panama, Mr. Bush appeared merry as he toured the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal and then threw pitches to Einar Diaz, a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Mr. Diaz was part of a small crowd of Panamanian baseball greats, including Mariano Rivera of the New Yankees, assembled with junior baseball teams on a local diamond to meet the president.

Mr. Bush, a former managing partner of the Texas Rangers, threw two pitches to Mr. Diaz. The first was a bit inside and the second was high, but both had some pop, according to the assessment of a small pool of reporters traveling with Mr. Bush.

Great. Just great.