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.
