Right-hander Isaac Mattson during his time with the Baltimore Orioles. Photo from the Associated Press & Observer-Reporter Newspaper
Right-hander Isaac Mattson during his time with the Baltimore Orioles. Photo from the Associated Press & Observer-Reporter Newspaper
Posted: Sep 19, 2024

FORMER WILD THING ISAAC MATTSON CALLED UP TO THE BIGS

WASHINGTON, PA - Another former player from the Frontier League has made the jump into Major League Baseball!

Former Washington Wild Thing Isaac Mattson, who spent time with the Baltimore Orioles organization before signing with Washington in 2022, had his contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on Thursday. 

A Pennsylvania native, Mattson will get another chance in the majors after making just four appearances with the Orioles two years ago. Mattson, 29, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh before being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with their 19th-round selection in 2017. In 2022, he signed with Baltimore and made his big league debut before ultimately coming to Washington later that season.

In his lone season with the Wild Things, Mattson pitched 14.1 innings across 12 games, striking out 23 and surrendering only 10 hits. The right-handed hurler then was picked up by the Minnesota Twins organization in 2023 before landing with Pittsburgh.

In triple-A Indianapolis, Mattson's excellence earned him this year's organizational Pitcher of the Year award. Mattson was 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 29 games (three starts), collecting three saves in 60 innings with the Indians. He established himself as a strike thrower, punching out 76 hitters against 33 walks.

Mattson has reportedly joined the Pirates in St. Louis for their series with the Cardinals and is expected to primarily be used as a long reliever. He becomes the fourth Wild Thing to be called up this season and the eighth from the Frontier League in total. Other players to be called up this season include:

  • LHP Tyler Jay (New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers via Joliet)
  • RHP Chris Roycroft (St. Louis Cardinals via Joliet)
  • RHP Spencer Bivens (San Francisco Giants via Washington)
  • RHP James Meeker (Milwaukee Brewers via Washington)
  • RHP Ryan Miller (San Francisco Giants via Southern Illinois)
  • RHP Kumar Rocker (Texas Rangers via Tri-City)
  • LHP Austin Kitchen (Milwaukee Brewers via Washington)