Ottawa Titans sign trio of players

The Ottawa Titans have signed right-hander Nigel Calmes. Photo: Ottawa Titans

March 31, 2023

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Ottawa, Ont. - The Ottawa Titans have signed infielder Jamey Smart, left-handed pitcher Lucas Sweany, and right-handed pitcher Nigel Calmes for the upcoming 2023 Frontier League season.

Smart, 26, joins the Titans for a return to professional baseball after splitting the 2021 season with three separate clubs. Overall, Smart slashed .342 with three home runs and 42 RBIs in 50 games for the Frontier League’s Southern Illinois Miners, Gateway Grizzlies, and the American Association’s Sioux City Explorers.

A graduate of Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, California), Smart will enter his fourth season of professional baseball in 2023. At Loyola Marymount, Smart played in 200 games, amassing a career average of .298 with 31 doubles, 13 homers, and 123 RBI.

The 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter made his debut in 2018 with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, before finishing the season under Bobby Brown and the Lincoln Saltdogs. Over 169 career professional games, Smart is a lifetime .307 hitter with nine home runs and 110 RBI.

Sweany, 23, pitched three seasons of college baseball at the University of the Pacific (Stockton, Calif.) from 2018 to 2020. In 38 appearances (13 starts, 25 in relief), Sweany went 4-11 with a 4.62 ERA – working 113 innings for the Tigers.

Hailing from Vacaville, Calif., Sweany signed with the Minnesota Twins organization as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Although never pitching in the minor leagues due to Tommy John surgery, Sweany is set to make his professional debut with the Titans in 2023.

Calmes, 23, signs with the Titans after spending the 2022 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. The 6-foot-1 right-hander began his professional career as a position player in 2018. Calmes worked 2 2/3 innings a season ago – and has 18 career pitching appearances.

Hailing from Paradera, Aruba, Calmes has also appeared for The Kingdom of the Netherlands at several international events.

The Ottawa Titans open the 2023 season at home on Friday, May 12 against the Empire State Greys.