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The Ottawa Titans are back in black and red for 2025

By Kiersten Vuorimaki on May 14, 2025

A hot dog at the game beats roast beef at the Ritz. – Humphrey Bogart

The Ottawa Titans have started their 2025 season on the road, but are coming home for their grand home opener at Ottawa Stadium on Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30pm against the New Jersey Jackals. The first 3,500 fans at the opener will take home a Titans replica jersey (size XL), and enjoy celebratory fireworks. Get your tickets online to save yourself a lineup at the box office, and whenever possible, buy them at least a day in advance to save $4! The team thankfully doesn’t use Ticketmaster, so choosing, buying, sharing, and downloading your tickets is still nice and simple.

The Titans opened the season in North Carolina, against the freshly minted expansion Bird Dawgs, taking the season opener with a convincing 10-3 win, followed by a nail biting 6-5 victory to take the series. Game 3 against the Bird Dawgs was postponed due to weather. A narrow 3-2 defeat to the Washington Wild Things on Tuesday night was hard fought. The Titans will finish their road trip over the long weekend with three games against the Lake Erie Crushers, returning to the 613 for Tuesday.


Manager Bobby Brown has said that this year there will be a bigger focus on ‘small ball’, which for the rest of us means more base hits, bunts and stolen bases to score runs in multiple steps rather than relying on big hits from sluggers. Base stealing has not been the Titans’ forte in recent years, so big changes could be good.

After falling in the Division Final and missing last year’s Championship, fans have got a taste of Titans playoff baseball, and we want back in.

If you’re just now realizing that we’re not talking about the Lynx, Rapidz, or the Champions anymore, I outlined the Titans origin story in 2022 check it out here.

Returning Stars

There are only 10 returning players from last year’s roster, so we are blessed by the return of AJ Wright for his fourth year in the hot corner at third base. Wright ended last season with a batting average of .304 and lead the team in runs, walks, RBI, and home-runs and was a calm, productive force every game. Learn more about him from our interview last season. Fan favourite Jackie Urbaez is also back, thankfully. The lighting quick infielder/outfielder with the movie star smile brings the clutch hitting and quick infield instincts that keep the Titans in tough games.

Canadian Taylor Wright seems to have moved from the outfield to first base, replacing last season’s reliable Jamey Smart. Wright has the reach for first, and has proven himself to be unflappable, which is key for a first baseman. He also lead the team in stolen bases in 2024 with 25 (Jackie Urbaez was next in the list with 13). Lamar Briggs is back, and his athletic plays and speed on the bases should translate to those stolen bases and extra base hits we’re looking for.

Our starter rotation of pitching is mostly new this season, but two familiar faces on the mound are Grant Larson and Shane Grey. Larson at 6’7” is an imposing presence and he was dominant in the season opener in North Carolina. Personal favourite Erasmo Piñales is also back as a closer with an intense fast ball and intimidating mound presence. The coaching staff including Manager Bobby Brown are all back for another season, so there will be some consistency in our style of play.

What’s New in 2025

There are two new expansion teams in the Frontier league this season, the Down East Bird Dawgs in North Carolina and the Mud Monsters in Mississippi. The Titans remain in the Atlantic Conference with old friends the Trois Rivières Aigles, Québec Capitales, New Jersey Jackals, and New York Boulders to name a few.

New pick up Jeremy Piatkiewicz at short stop has already proven himself a reliable hitter with six hits and four runs in 10 at bats in the opening weekend, with some quick moves at short. From High River Alberta, Tucker Zdunich is also new to independent baseball but has started the season strong batting .500 going into the long weekend.

On the mound, new arrival Shane Telfer joins us fresh from the the Arizona Diamonbacks system, where he played level A+. The 23 years old southpaw pitched in relief there, but indy ball is a different animal, so we’ll see where he slots in. Our hero AJ Wright is joined on the roster by his younger brother Joey Wright this season, who has yet to put up any stats, but is also listed as an infielder. With AJ at third, and Taylor Wright (no relation) on first, are we in for a Nearly All Wright infield? (pray to the baseball gods) (also, I’ll copywright that)

I expect to see a lots of roster shifting in the first month of the season, which is typical in Independent ball so don’t get too attached!

Food and Drink

I will continue to say until I die that the food at Ottawa Stadium is the best stadium food in Ottawa. That is primarily down to the fresh and tasty Mexican food at Mr. Señor along the first base line. Featured in one of last year’s Best Bites, the birria tacos ($7 each) are perfection, the taquitos ($16.50) are fresh, crunchy and filling, and the taco salad ($16.50) is a fantastic option for a hot day. This year they are launching pupusas on the menu, and since the family running the concession are actually Salvadorean, these should be goooood.

Taco Salad. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki

Gabriel’s Pizza is back at the park with its concession counter, plus Lois ‘N’ Frima’s ice cream, and Cappy’s Kitchen for the $9.25 foot long hot dogs, $12 poutine, and $7 burgers. For busier games, like the home opener, I recommend ordering ahead using the (free) app if you don’t want to get caught in line waiting.

The Titans also continue to offer  local beers including Vimy, Beyond The Pale, and Stray Dog with featured local breweries throughout the summer both in tallboy cans at the concessions and on tap in the Hop Yard. Pints at the Hop Yard will run you $10.50, or you can splurge on the $26 souvenir bat, to look extra cool and get discounted refills. You can also find canned cocktails, ciders, and wine for around the park for $8-$10.

Season Highlights

Fireworks games are always a hit, and this season you can expect fireworks on Friday nights. Bark in the Park is back on Saturday, May 24 and Saturday, Aug. 23, so bring your furry friend along to enjoy the sunshine. Baseball Bingo is a great way to learn the game, win prizes and get out on a Tuesday. Play along on July 8, July 22, and Aug. 5.

New this year, Friday June 13th is Spooky Friday the 13th with theme jerseys, and Dino Day is taking over on Saturday, July 13th. Make your friendship bracelets for the second edition of Theme Night (Taylor’s Version) on July 11 or celebrate Wicked with Wickedly Ozsome day on Aug. 9.

Advance tickets for Titans games are $13 or $17 plus taxes and can be bought online or at the box office. Expect to pay $4 more on game days, regardless of where you buy them. Parking is $9 through Indigo parking, so there are QR codes throughout the lot to pay by phone, or pay ahead through the app.