By: Frankie Benvenuti

For the first time in franchise history, the Ottawa Titans have named a captain: Jason Dicochea. 

Since joining the Frontier League for the 2022 season, the Redondo Beach, California native has been a mainstay in the Titans’ infield, driving in over 110 runs in his time in the nation’s capital. After a move to Mexico fell through for the veteran, he re-upped with the Titans for 2024, providing a welcome addition for Manager Bobby Brown. 

On their first road trip of the season, Brown called Dicochea to meet him in his hotel room, and without knowing what was coming, the Santa Clara University alum obliged. As it turns out, the meeting with the skipper was one of the more positive experiences in Dicochea’s young career. 

“I’m honoured and humbled,” Dicochea said. “Bobby and I have had a good relationship. He says it’s the way I go about my business every day. I’m a little surprised, but I’m excited and blessed for the opportunity.” 

Unlike other sports, captains aren’t incredibly common in baseball, as teams hold the honour for the perfect fit. Some of the greatest players to ever play the game have been named the captain of their clubs, and Dicochea takes the honour incredibly seriously, regardless of whether it’s in Ottawa or in the NCAA, where he previously captained a team. 

“When you think of captains, you think of Derek Jeter or Jason Varitek,” he said. “That’s the embodiment of being a captain in baseball. You try to be all of the qualities that those guys had, while putting your own personal twist on it. You want the way you work to rub off on guys.” 

In his over 10 years of managing independent baseball, Brown has never named a captain before. Having the honour of being the Titans’ first captain is one thing, but having it bestowed upon him by Brown is a different beast. 

“That one means a little more to me,” Dicochea said with a laugh. “With how much I respect him and all that he has done in his career, it was an honour when he called me to his hotel room to tell me I was going to be the captain.” 

Brown’s appreciation for Dicochea runs deep. Prior to joining the Titans, he often dreamed of finding a way to recruit the versatile defender, which he finally managed to accomplish in 2022, something Brown doesn’t regret in the slightest. 

“The makeup is off the charts,” Brown explained. “When we got him right before the opener in that first year, I felt like we won the lottery. He’s still here now, [and that says a lot].” 

Those two years have only gone on to confirm everything the skipper believed to be true, leading to this historic moment. 

“The way that he plays the game every day is an example that I want everyone on this club to emulate,” Brown said. “More importantly, he’s a great teammate. He’s as good of a teammate as I have ever been around, and you don’t play this game forever. When Dico gets done, I think he’ll look back and realize that he was a good pro who did it the right way. He deserves this, and I’m honoured that he took it.” 

In the clubhouse, Dicochea is a shining example for his teammates, but relationships haven’t changed after the acknowledgement. 

“There have been a lot of jokes, and a lot of guys poking fun at me,” Dicochea said. “It’s the same dudes that I have been teammates with for a while now, so nobody is treating me any differently, but there has been a lot of good banter that will last a few weeks, I’m sure.”