With a build similar to former Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Rowdy Tellez, you won’t miss Ottawa Titans slugger, David Maberry. Maberry stands just two inches shorter than Tellez, at six-foot-two, and is listed as 10 pounds lighter than Tellez, at 145 pounds, but both have an unmistakable pop in their bat that makes them a threat to go deep.
Maberry has previously laid a successful foundation playing NCAA baseball, both with the University of North Florida, before transferring to Valdosta State, where he played two seasons. Through 100 games in college, Maberry slugged 13 home runs and 99 RBIs, while posting a .336 batting average. Last season, Maberry made the just to professional baseball, joining the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League.
With the Raptors, Maberry continued his success, hitting 10 home runs in 74 games. In that time, he racked up 73 RBIs, and ended the season with a sky-high .412 batting average in 245 at-bats. He took home the Pioneer League’s Batting Champion award, completing his season on a high note.
“It was pretty incredible, I’m not going to lie,” Maberry said recalling his 2021 season. “My first professional at-bat was a grand slam, and from there, I just kept rolling. I think in my first week, I had four home runs, I was hitting the ball really well, and I just kept hitting it hard.”
“The professional baseball lifestyle is just something I love,” he said. “I love getting at-bats every single day, and I think that environment just helped me to thrive and be the player I want to be.”
Much like Zac Westcott, manager Bobby Brown played a large part in bringing Maberry to Ottawa. After playing against Brown’s Missoula PaddleHeads in 2021, Maberry knew he was good at what he does, and he wanted to be a part of it in Ottawa.
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“I had played against Bobby Brown last year in the Pioneer League,” he said. “I just kinda lined up after. I knew he was a good manager, he could get me better. I thought it would be a good fit, and here I am.”
Although he committed to making Ottawa his home, at least for one summer, he has never previously been to the city. He quickly got busy doing some of the things Ottawa residents do, and took in one of the city’s sporting events.
“I’ve never been to Canada, so that was pretty neat,” Maberry said. “The first day I was here, I went to an Ottawa Senators game, and got some poutine, that was fire. Now I need to try smoked meat on rye, I heard that’s next up on my Canadian to-do list.”
“I’ve been by Parliament Hill, but I haven’t gotten to really explore the city,” he said. “I went to baseball town, that place was pretty cool.”
When the Titans hit the field, both this weekend and beyond, Maberry isn’t certain of his exact role. He knows that he is going to be playing first base, but he doesn’t know how often. He will likely see some time as the designated hitter, but where he will hit in the lineup remains to be seen. Despite that, he’s not concerned.
“I don’t know my role yet,” he said. “We haven’t had an actual game, but as of right now, I just know that I’m playing first and hitting.”
The team’s preseason games this weekend against the Quebec Capitales and the Trois-Rivieres Aigles will go a long way to deciding his role, and Maberry is excited to hit the field.
“I’m pumped, I’m not going to lie,” said Maberry. “When we played the scrimmage game the other day, I was pumped to play that even if it was against a men’s league team. I was just so excited to get on the field and get rolling. I’d say I’m equally excited, if not more [to start the preseason]. It’s just so much fun to be playing games again and getting into that routine.”
“I’m a player who’s going to give it my all,” he said. “Every single at-bat, every single inning, I’m just going to play as hard as I can. I’m going to be the hitter that I can be.”
Maberry isn’t getting caught up in the numbers. All he wants to do is be the best baseball player he can be, and bring a championship to Ottawa.
“I want to win a championship, and I want to play the way I know I can play,” he said.
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