Titans Ink Two Returners, One Newcomer for 2026 Campaign

Ottawa, ON - The Ottawa Titans Baseball Club announced today that they have agreed to terms on contract extensions with left-handed pitcher Shane Telfer and infielder Mason Collins, while also coming to terms with utility player Mark Hernandez for the upcoming 2026 Frontier League season.

Telfer, 24, returns to the club for his third season of professional baseball. Last summer, Telfer went 8-7 with a 6.73 ERA in 20 games (16 starts, four in relief) over a career-high 91 innings – walking 42 and striking out 75 opposing batters. He won three consecutive outings in late June/early July while posting back-to-back victories on two separate occasions. Telfer hurled at least six clean frames in two starts, including seven shutout innings on August 13. He set a career-high with eight strikeouts in a game at home on June 27.

The southpaw came to the independent circuit after two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In 2024, Telfer split 12 relief appearances between the Class-A California League’s Visalia Rawhide and the Class-A Advanced Northwest League’s Hillsboro Hops. Overall, the 6-foot-1 southpaw went 1-0 with a 3.42 ERA over 23.2 innings – walking 16 and striking out 18.

Hailing from San Diego, California, Telfer was signed by Arizona in 2023 following a four-year collegiate career at Pepperdine University (Malibu, California). Telfer transitioned into a full-time starter for the Waves during his senior season in 2023 – ranking sixth in strikeouts (71) and ERA, and 12th in innings pitched.

In 48 career collegiate contests (21 starts, 27 in relief) from 2020-2023, the left-hander was a lifetime 9-7 with a 3.96 ERA over 141 innings – striking out 144 opposing hitters.

Collins, 23, rejoins the club following his professional debut last summer. In total, Collins appeared in two games, going 0-for-2 with a pair of walks in the season finale at the plate, and logged an inning and a third on the mound.

Serving a majority of the season as the Emergency Catcher in Ottawa, Collins saw playing time for the Malone Border Hounds of the Empire League. In 34 games, Collins hit .342 with six doubles, three home runs, and drove in 36 runs – earning regular season and playoff MVP honours.

The Cottondale, Alabama product played collegiately at Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) in 2023 – hitting .247 with four doubles and 16 RBI in 34 games.

Hernandez, 25, comes to Ottawa after beginning his Partner League professional career with the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers (now Yuba-Sutter Freebirds) of the Pioneer League last summer. In just six games, Hernandez posted four hits in 20 plate appearances (.235 average), knocking in two runs.

Hailing from Oxnard, California, Hernandez suited up for five seasons of collegiate baseball at three different schools: Oxnard College (Oxnard, California), Santa Barbara City College (Santa Barbara, California), and Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, California) from 2019 to 2024. Over a 181-game collegiate career, Hernandez was a lifetime .330 hitter with 38 doubles, 13 home runs, and drove in 119 runs. In two seasons at Sonoma State (2023 and 2024), Hernandez hit to a .326 average with 17 doubles, eight homers, and posted 48 RBI.

Hernandez started his professional career in the Pecos League with the San Rafael Pacifics, where he slugged to a .340 average with 22 doubles, 11 homers, and 85 RBI in just 88 contests. He joins the Club with versatility to play both corner infield positions and the outfield, adding depth to an already deep position player group.

The Ottawa Titans will open the 2026 season on Friday, May 8, at 7:00 p.m., hosting the Québec Capitales at Ottawa Stadium.

For information on Ottawa Titans’ 2026 Season Tickets, Group Outings, and 10-Game Mini Packs, visit the Titans’ official website at www.ottawatitans.com.

Photos: Denielle Gaudet/Ottawa Titans (Telfer), Kaitlyn Leboutillier/Ottawa Titans (Collins), and Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (Hernandez)

2026 Ottawa Titans Player Signings

INF Kaiden Cardoso

INF Aaron Casillas

INF Mason Collins

UTIL Justin Fogel

RHP Brett Garcia

RHP Grant Garza

INF Austin Gurney

INF Jack Halloran

UTIL Mark Hernandez

LHP Kaleb Hill

INF Cristian Inoa

RHP Konsta Kurikka

OF Jackson Lyon

LHP Max Martzolf

RHP Dwayne Matos

UTIL Daniel McElveny

RHP Yohanse Morel

RHP Michael O'Hanlon

LHP Bryan Peña

RHP Caleb Reyes

OF Jake Sanford

LHP Shane Telfer

RHP Heitor Tokar

UTIL Jackie Urbaez

RHP Alfredo Villa

INF AJ Wright

UTIL Taylor Wright