PITTSBURGH — Isaac Mattson had never been more elated to cancel plans.

On May 7, the same date he made his MLB debut three years prior, Mattson was forced to reorganize his calendar. In just two weeks, he and his Altoona Curve teammates were to begin a six-game road series against the Erie Seawolves. Born and raised in Harborcreek, Pa., the Pirates' veteran farmhand had made numerous arrangements for the upcoming trip to his hometown.

But that all changed with a call into his manager's office. After a challenging journey, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher was informed he was headed to Triple-A Indianapolis, bringing him a step closer to his goal.

"I had a poster ready to go for the clubhouse about a cookout at my parents' house," Mattson told the Post-Gazette. "I had a few other things planned with different schools that I went to. But God has a plan."

Now in his eighth year of professional baseball, Mattson has received plenty of call-ups. Selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round of the 2017 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh, he needed just three minor league seasons to reach the game's highest level.

But after making it to the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles in May 2021, Mattson would go through the most challenging two-year stretch of his life.

That July 14, Mattson lost his mother, Debra, to a long battle with depression. Her death occurred on his 26th birthday. The following summer, after struggling in Triple-A, he was released.

With no other MLB teams interested, Mattson started over with the Washington Wild Things in Washington, Pa. Success in independent ball landed him a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins last June.

After signing a minor league deal with the Pirates last offseason, Mattson is just a call away from making it all the way back to the top. And though that is not guaranteed, he approaches each day with a different perspective thanks to the road he has traveled.

A 'punch to the gut'

Mattson will never forget the day he turned 26.

Back in Triple-A after two brief major league outings, he went to the ballpark in Memphis, where the Norfolk Tides, his team at the time, were set to play a 7 p.m. game.

That morning, he had received a call from his mother, who wished him a happy birthday. He spent the afternoon going about his workday, ensuring he'd be ready to go if needed out of the bullpen. But a few hours before the first pitch, a phone call from his father, Ed Mattson, changed everything. Mattson's mother had died by suicide.

"I was in the training room, just getting ready," Mattson said. "I remember not really believing any of it. I think my dad told me what had happened, and I just kind of glossed over it. But then, things kind of started to hit me, as they came in waves."

Mattson informed the team's trainer of what had happened. The Baltimore Orioles organization encouraged him to take all the time he needed before returning to baseball. For Mattson, that was only two weeks.

"You know what it takes to be a major league player," Ed said. "He had just arrived. He was just trying to figure it all out, and then he took this punch to the gut."

"At the time, that's what I thought I needed," Mattson added. "I was just trying to put my head down and get back to things as normal. They definitely weren't normal."

Mattson made two more big-league appearances in 2021. He finished the season with a 6.23 ERA over 4 1/3 innings of work. The numbers weren't ideal, but it was something to build off of — or at least he thought.

The challenges continued the following year. Time went by, but not enough for Mattson to fully grieve. His focus was on baseball — at times, too much so.

"I always just wanted to keep moving instead of kind of recognizing the pain and the struggle that I was going through," Mattson said. "And it wasn't just me. It was my siblings, my dad. I didn't do well because I felt like if I just got back to normal, everything would work itself out and it didn't."

Loving the game

By the summer of 2022, Mattson was about ready for a career change. Struggling to establish consistency on the mound, along with the unhealed wound of his mother's death, he contemplated a future beyond baseball.

That lack of confidence led to his release from the Orioles organization. He was let go July 18, four days after the one- year anniversary of his mother's passing.

For two weeks, Mattson tried to figure out what was next. He determined his baseball journey was not over. With no MLB teams interested, Mattson knew it would be a long road back to the top. In August 2022, the Washington Wild Things gave him an opportunity to take his first step.

"There were some options on the table, but Washington kind of stuck out because it was close to family and it was in a city that I was familiar with," Mattson said.

Mattson's arrival in Washington provided a unique situation for his new club, sitting in first place in the Frontier League's West Division. Pitching coach Alex Boshers had a handful of initial concerns. How would Mattson, a former big leaguer, cope with the drastic change in scenery? How would he fit in with his new teammates? How would they use him without ruffling any feathers?

It didn't take long for those worries to vanish.

"He as a person was just awesome," Boshers said. "He asked a lot of questions, which was good. It showed a lot of young guys that someone like him, who had been to the pinnacle of the game, was still hungry to learn from anyone and everyone. It was fun, for sure. He fit right in. He had no issues with the guys. Was great in the clubhouse. Took care of the rookies and stuff like that."

The Wild Things cruised to a 62-34 record, good for a division title and a return to the postseason. Mattson did his part, tallying 23 strikeouts while allowing only four earned runs in 14 1/3 innings (2.51 ERA) in 12 outings.

But good numbers were only a small part of his reward.

"A lot of guys in Washington and [independent] ball, they're not doing it for the money," Mattson said. "They're just there because they want to compete, get better and hopefully get a shot at the next level. Just being there in that environment, being free and just allowing the game to be fun again, it was a big experience and turning point."

Added Boshers: "He got what I feel like was the purpose a guy in his situation needs to get from independent ball. He relearned to love the game."

A new outlook

In April 2023, Mattson parlayed his Frontier League success into a contract with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent "partner league" of Major League Baseball.

Against stiffer competition, his success continued. In 18 appearances, Mattson worked 19 innings, striking out 24 batters with three saves and a 3.32 ERA. Halfway through the season, one major league organization had seen enough.

On June 22, he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. Mattson put together one of the best seasons of his career in Double-A Wichita, going 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 21 appearances. He walked 24 batters and tallied 42 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings. Opposing hitters batted just .138 against him.

Mattson has been even better since signing a minor league deal with the Pirates last offseason. After starting the year in Altoona, he was promoted after going 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 11 innings of work. Entering this week, he had allowed just one earned run in five innings (1.80 ERA) through his two appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Things now are much different for Mattson compared to his last time in Triple-A. Thanks to the support of loved ones, his faith and taking more time to address his mental health, he now approaches the game with a new outlook.

"Back in 2021 and 2022, there was just a lot of inexperience from my point of view," Mattson said. "It felt like I was doing my best to be a professional, but there is definitely more depth this time in Triple-A. I feel like I understand a lot more having gone through the tough times. I no longer just appreciate the good times, the success. Now I appreciate the challenging times for myself, and even my teammates."

In addition to helping his team win on the field, Mattson has been an asset in the clubhouse. Coaches and players within the organization have highlighted his willingness to support younger teammates going through struggles.

"From seeing him in spring training up until he left for Indianapolis, he was such a professional," Altoona manager Robby Hammock said. "He set a good example. He was always locked in and ready to go. And he was always there to give guidance to our younger players."

Mattson doesn't often share the full story of his mother's death with teammates, but he will if he thinks it can help him connect with a player going through similar struggles. Approaching the three-year anniversary of her death, Mattson said he is now at peace with what happened. While his mother is gone, he understands that he is not alone.

"Losing such a big supporter of me and my career from little league, to travel ball, to college, to professional ball, it wrecked me," Mattson said. "It made me feel like I didn't have anybody, even though I did. That was a big hurdle for me, realizing how many people truly do care about me, care about the things that I'm passionate about and want to see me succeed."

Mattson now is using his platform to both honor his late mother and raise mental health awareness. Sept. 28 will mark the third annual Debra Mattson Memorial Walk, an event put together by the family that raises money for The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Erie County. It also funds a pair of scholarships in Debra's name for Pennsylvania seniors at Harborcreek and Girard. The past two walks have generated a combined total of more than $15,000.

During the first walk, just a few months after Debra's death, the Mattson family couldn't help but notice a pair of clouds in the shape of angel wings, which Mattson said was the first of many times he felt his mother was looking over them. A more recent occurrence came on April 5, when in the midst of his first victory of the season, snow began to fall at Akron's Canal Park.

"That was her," Ed Mattson said. "Growing up in Erie, we sat and watched him pitch in the snow countless times. That was her watching from above."

At 28, Mattson hopes to once again reach the major leagues but will be OK if he never returns. With a new outlook on life, he'll just enjoy each day to its fullest.

"On the way up the first time, I was just thinking about how I could get to the next level as quickly as possible," Mattson said.

"There still is that desire, to play at the next level and to play in the big leagues again. But now, I realize that this is still supposed to be a game. It's still supposed to be fun."