Titans Look to Blend Fresh Faces with Household Names in Roster Recharge

By: Justin Ball

Blankets of snow might cover the diamond inside Ottawa Stadium, but behind the scenes, the Titans are far from dormant.

After a 51-win season set a new standard for baseball in Ottawa, the Titans are looking to recharge with a roster that can build upon the success of 2025’s campaign.

Ahead of 2026, the Titans have already inked new players and re-signed big names to avoid the same shaky start from last year. By adding new talent to the team’s winning formula, the Titans are ready to hit the ground running come opening day. 

Newcomers in the bullpen 

The Titans saw lots of success in their last campaign, finishing 40-21 over their final 61 games, a league best for the 2025 season. With hitters like Kaiden Cardoso reliably getting on base and the likes of AJ Wright and Jackie Urbaez swinging for the fences in all-or-nothing moments, Ottawa’s position players had no trouble stepping up to the plate. 

However, when it comes to consistent pitching, there were opportunities for the team to grow. 

According to Titans Manager Bobby Brown, the team wasn’t half a game short of the playoffs, but rather one arm short. 

“With starting pitching, we might have been a guy short last year,” Brown said. “We've got a long off-season to try to remedy that and build this roster for next year.”

The Titans wasted no time building up the bullpen, signing two pitchers within the first few months of the offseason. 

On November 18, the Titans announced the signings of Heitor Tokar and Grant Garza, both 25-year-old right-handed pitchers. 

Tokar spent two seasons with the American Association’s Sioux City Explorers, where he proved himself as a versatile pitcher. He recorded 69 strikeouts across 81.2 innings pitched in 2023, and had a 3.95 ERA over 13.2 innings in relief in 2024.

Towering atop the mound at 6-foot-6, the Tokar is set to be the first Brazilian player to join the Titans’ roster. 

Meanwhile, Garza started the 2025 season as a senior at the University of Texas at Tyler, where he racked up 19 strikeouts over 20.1 innings. In his collegiate career spanning four years, he threw 211 innings and struck out 191 hitters. 

Returning Players 

Don’t mess with success. 

During the offseason, one of the key goals for Titans Manager Bobby Brown was to re-sign the core position players who carried Ottawa through its dominant second half. 

That began earlier in the fall when the Titans locked down three of the club’s most impactful bats in AJ Wright, Jackie Urbaez, and Jake Sanford.

With the trio of players returning for their fifth seasons with the Titans, Wright, Urbaez, and Sanford have become household names in Ottawa. 

A two-time All-Star, Wright has blossomed into one of the top offensive performers the Frontier League has seen since the inception of the Titans' franchise. Looking to build off a team-high 23 doubles, ten home runs, and 55 RBI over 91 games - Wright will once again look to guide the squad back to a playoff berth.

Wright continues to be the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (368), runs scored (280), hits (375), walks (230), doubles (85), home runs (49), and RBI (218) over four seasons in Ottawa.

Urbaez has become one of the league’s most reliable hitters, posting a .422 on-base percentage across 93 games in 2025. He is still one of Ottawa’s best utility players since joining the club’s inaugural roster in 2022, with a team-high 22 multi-hit games last season. 

Meanwhile, Sanford has been responsible for reigniting Ottawa’s offence with some of the biggest swings from last summer. He hit .257 in 61 games, logging 35 runs. His powerful bat cracks led to multiple game-winning moments that gave the Titans the stamina to ascend to playoff contention. 

Prior to both players' contract extensions, Brown made it clear that keeping Sanford and Urbaez was central to next season’s blueprint.

“We're thrilled to have the nucleus of our team back for another shot to get to where we want to go… hopefully this can be a big year for them and culminate into all their hard work for four years,” Brown said.

He added that maintaining the on-field identity of the Titans is just as critical as bringing in new faces.

“If we can work this thing out with the classifications and the salaries, I’d like to bring a lot of these guys back,” Brown said. “Hopefully their hunger levels are at an all-time high, because we are really trying to go for it.”

With two fresh pitchers joining the fold and cornerstone players officially returning, the Titans enter 2026 with a roster that looks familiar and fortified in all the best ways. 

As Brown continues to build consistency on the mound and at the plate, Ottawa won’t be chasing the playoff race — but forming a team that is made to contend from day one.

Don’t wait until the snow melts to secure your spots for the 2026 season! Holiday Packages are on sale now until December 23. With various packages containing Suite experiences, Mini Packs, festive merch and more, give the gift of Ottawa Titans baseball this year!