JACKIE URBAEZ RETURNING TO OTTAWA
Jackie Urbaez knew nothing but what he had been told about the city of Ottawa before signing with the Titans ahead of their inaugural season in 2022, but he ended up making a choice he wouldn't regret.
After a successful rookie season in the Frontier League with the Sussex County Miners in 2021, Urbaez was allowed to walk free, and the Titans were quick to swoop in. After consulting with friends who played for former Ottawa franchises, he came to the conclusion that a new challenge - one that took him to a new city and country - was his best option.
The Miami, Florida native arrived ahead of spring training, and quickly set about to learn as much about the city, and people, as possible. He went on tours, seeing the city's sights, including Parliament Hill, visited the malls, and even took in some hockey games, seeing both the Ottawa Senators and the Gatineau Olympiques.
"I was trying to integrate into the city and its culture," Urbaez said. "I wanted to become one with the fans, and how they live. I wanted to become one of them."
Finding comfort off the field, Urbaez found things even easier on it. Almost immediately, he believed the Titans were capable of something special, saying there was something about the makeup of the club that was "going to take [them] far."
"Everybody came to work, no one was lollygagging and not taking it seriously," he said. "Once we got onto the field, we had fun, but it was down to business."
The season was special, as the Titans made a deep playoff run, eventually falling to the Québec Capitales in the East Division Final. According to Urbaez, it isn't always a given that a team will gel as the Titans did, but he says that everyone on the team was there for one another, always putting the team first.
"A lot of players are just there to get back into affiliated ball," Urbaez claimed. "I understand it, but at the same time, if we're going to see one another every day, let's be boys and grow a connection, but let's play for each other. That's what we had, everyone had a great relationship, and no one had any problems, and everybody just wanted to win."
The season didn't end with the desired result, and Urbaez watched the Capitales celebrate a Frontier League championship, one he wished he and the Titans could have captured. He returned home to Miami, where he has been training and coaching youth baseball, and compared to previous years, his routine has been more focused.
Although he finished the season with an on-base percentage of .417 and 48 RBIs, the 25-year-old isn't satisfied, and has gone to work over the offseason, looking to improve in every aspect of the game.
"This year, I'm being more aggressive in what I'm working on to come back in better shape," Urbaez said. "I want to put up more numbers to help the team win, and be the best player I can be."
It took some time to finally materialize, but on January 17th, the Titans announced that Urbaez would be back for the 2022 season. He says that Ottawa was where he wanted to be, and was thrilled to get the deal done.
"I loved the city, from the second I got there, I knew it was different," Urbaez said. "I love the management, coaches, players, everything. It felt like a brotherhood. It feels like home."
Still unsure of what the final roster is going to look like, Urbaez has been paying close attention to the transaction wire, hoping to see one of his friends come back to Ottawa.
"I check it every day," Urbaez said with a laugh. "When I see a name I recognize, I text them. You get to see your friends again, you get to play with them again, and you already know them, so it's not like you have to go and meet all new people."
With the start of the season now less than 100 days away, Urbaez has his mind set on one thing: getting over the hump, and winning a Frontier League championship.
"Going into this year, everybody knows what they could have done to help us get over that hump," Urbaez said. "With our experience last year and knowing we could have advanced, I think we're going to come out stronger and learn from our mistakes."
