Mike Crotta
From BR Bullpen
Michael John Crotta
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 6", Weight 210 lb.
- School Florida Atlantic University
- High School Martin County High School
- Debut April 3, 2011
- Born September 24, 1984 in Fort Lauderdale, FL USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Pitcher Mike Crotta made his major league debut in 2011.
[edit] Amateur career
Crotta had a 5-1, 0.51 record in high school, with 86 strikeouts to 3 walks in 54 innings to win All-State honors. He was originally drafted in the 47th round of the 2003 amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies; however, he did not sign. As a freshman at college in 2004, he had a 5-4, 5.20 record. His sophomore year was worse at 5-4, 6.02. He still got to play in the elite Cape Cod League, but had the highest ERA of any Bourne Braves hurler with 20+ innings (1-2, Sv, 4.91). His junior year at Florida Atlantic was far from stellar (2-2, 6 Sv, 5.82), yet he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2006 amateur draft.
[edit] Minors
In 2006, Crotta played for the Williamsport Crosscutters and Hickory Crawdads, going 2-5 with a 4.87 ERA in 15 games (11 starts), walking just 6 in 61 innings. He pitched for Hickory and the Altoona Curve (one emergency start at Altoona only) in 2007, posting a record of 10-6 with a 4.50 ERA. In 2008, he went 9-10 with a 4.67 ERA for the Lynchburg Hillcats. He led the Carolina League with 17 hits allowed but also had the best control (1.54 BB/9). He tied Corey Hamman for the most wins among Pirates farmhands and tied Tony Watson for the most starts (28). That fall, he was 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League.
Mike went went 7-8 with a 4.76 ERA for the Altoona Curve in 2009. He became the fifth Curve hurler to make 27 starts, following Brian O'Connor, John Grabow, Sean Burnett and Landon Jacobsen; no one had done it for six years before Crotta. The Floridian led Bucco farmhands in starts. He split 2010 between the Curve and Indianapolis Indians, going a combined 7-10 with a 4.42 ERA in 28 starts. He walked just 40 in 156 2/3 innings.
[edit] Majors
Crotta was a surprise to make the 2011 Pirates' Opening Day roster, aided by injuries to Joe Beimel and Scott Olsen. He had impressed management with his control and ability to get ground ball outs during spring training. Manager Clint Hurdle put the rookie into his debut contest in a one-run game. Down 4-3 against the Cubs in the third game of the year, he relieved Ross Ohlendorf. He retired Marlon Byrd on a grounder, ex-Buc Aramis Ramirez on a fly and Carlos Pena on a strikeout. John Bowker pinch-hit for Michael in the 8th; the Bucs would rally to win, 5-4.
[edit] Sources
- 2004-2010 Baseball Almanacs
- Florida Atlantic University
