Looking back at Mattson's 2021 season

Reliever Isaac Mattson was counted among the 16 Orioles who made their major league debuts in 2021, 14 of them pitchers. He stood out for a few reasons, none that guarantee him a job this summer.

Mattson appeared in four games - never more than one in a month, which seems highly unusual. His first major league outing was May 7 at Camden Yards, followed by opportunities on July 3 in Anaheim, Aug. 7 in Baltimore and Oct. 1 in Toronto.

That's one way to spread the wealth, though I believe the expression is based on something else.

Mattson's debut lasted two-thirds of an inning in a 6-2 loss to the Red Sox. He warmed up in the eighth inning and began to jog onto the field in the top of the ninth, only to see Dillon Tate back on the mound.

Both men were confused. Mattson was the one who had to turn around and sheepishly head back to the bullpen.

"A little bit of a miscommunication there," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I told Tate that if we didn't score at all that Mattson was coming in the game. He misunderstood me."

Franchy Cordero lined out, Mattson entered and the Red Sox scored their last run on a full-count walk to Bobby Dalbec and Marwin Gonzalez's double. (I looked up my game story and had Cordero lining out and also drawing the walk. Thanks for pretending not to notice.)

A couple of long fly balls got Mattson back in the dugout. Austin Hays made a leaping catch to rob Alex Verdugo.

Mattson's stay was brief. The Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk after the game to create room for left-hander Zac Lowther.

The Tides used Mattson in only 18 games. He tossed an inning on July 10 and didn't pitch again until Aug. 3 because he was attending to a personal matter. He went on the injured list later in the month with a sore shoulder and didn't pitch again until Sept. 23.

Mattson allowed 12 earned runs (13 total) and 24 hits in 17 1/3 innings, with six walks and 24 strikeouts. He allowed three runs and five hits and walked five batters in 4 1/3 innings with the Orioles.

The right-hander didn't allow a run in his last four appearances with Norfolk totaling six innings, with only two hits and 10 strikeouts.

The bullpen isn't fully stocked as the Orioles wait for the lockout to end and their camp plans to be finalized. Mattson will compete for a job and try to put up numbers that more closely resemble what he produced in 2019.

A 2.33 ERA and 1.009 WHIP at three levels of the Angels system, with 110 strikeouts and only four home runs surrendered in 73 1/3 innings. Two earned runs and 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League.

Mattson was the closest to the majors among the four pitchers acquired in the Dylan Bundy trade, and he made it - with its weird rhythm and the humorous misunderstanding on May 7. The Orioles like the high-spin rate on his fastball. They liked his 2.89 ERA and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 82 minor league games before the trade.

It feels like he could use a reset and shove 2021 behind him. Reaching the majors was nice, but the Orioles and Tides didn't really see the best of him for a variety of reasons.

Tyler Wells, Paul Fry, Tanner Scott, Cole Sulser, Dillon Tate and Jorge López are favorites to break camp in the bullpen, though the latter could compete for a starting job. Cionel Pérez has a shot if Hyde wants a third left-hander. The Orioles could add a reliever in the Rule 5 draft, whenever it's held. They could sign a free agent. They could move one of their young starters into the long relief role.

Mattson hopes to provide another option for them.