He is the son of Buddy Crotta and Tammy Crotta.\n', '

Crotta attended Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida. He was drafted in the 47th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, however he opted to attend Florida Atlantic University, where he played baseball for the Owls under head coach Kevin Cooney. In the summer of 2005, he played for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was next drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, beginning his professional career that year.\n', '

Crotta was assigned to Short-Season Williamsport, where he appeared in 11 games before earning a promotion to Single-A Hickory. In 15 games (11 starts) in 2006, he went 2–5 with a 4.87 ERA, striking out 35 in 61 innings. Crotta played 2007 with the Crawdads, but he also made one spot start with Double-A Altoona. In 27 games (26 starts) in 2007, he went 10–6 with a 4.50 ERA, striking out 74 in 140 innings. Crotta played all of 2008 with High-A Lynchburg, where in a league-leading 28 starts, he went 9–10 with a 4.67 ERA, striking out 97 in 146.1 innings while giving up a league-leading 171 hits. Crotta played in the Arizona Fall League with Scottsdale, where in 12 games, he went 1–1 with a 4.76 ERA, striking out 14 in 17 innings. Crotta pitched 2009 with Altoona, where in 27 starts, he went 7–8 with a 4.76 ERA, striking out 97 in 143.2 innings. Crotta was Altoona\'s Opening Day starter in 2010, where he made 4 starts before earning a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he made 24 more starts. In 28 starts in 2010, he went 7–10 with a 4.42 ERA, striking out 105 in 156.2 innings.\n', '

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