A Lifelong Notre Dame Fan, Crane Commits To Play For Fighting Irish

Bobby Crane LHP / 1B / University of Detroit Jesuit , MI / 2025

GROSSE POINTE - Bobby Crane and his family have been lifelong Notre Dame fans. That only makes a commitment to the university in South Bend, Ind. that much sweeter.

“I’ve been a huge fan of the Irish growing up watching them so this is a great opportunity for me,” the Detroit Jesuit High School junior related. “This is really exciting. I didn’t think it was possible, but then they reached out and I had to make it possible. I’m so excited to be a student-athlete at Notre Dame.”

Interest from Notre Dame was initiated in October of 2022.

“We started talking and building a relationship, then the dead period hit,” the sixth-ranked 2025 left-handed pitcher in Michigan reflected. “But they came to see me in the summer and I went on a visit in September. I loved the atmosphere and the coaches. It felt like a great fit. They offered and a couple of days after I visited I committed.”

Toledo and Michigan State were others being considered by the 6-3 198-pound southpaw, but Notre Dame was just too good of an opportunity.

“It felt like home,” Crane said.

There was a lot to like in the 17-year-old from Grosse Pointe, with Notre Dame enamored with what Crane can bring to the program.

“They thought I was a great fit, being a lefty,” Crane explained. “I pound the strike zone and keep getting better.”

That has definitely been the case over the last three years with pitching coach Justin Robinson credited by Crane with playing an important role in his improvement.

“I had a really good sophomore high school year and a good summer,” Crane noted. “I really worked hard in the offseason. My pitching coach has helped me get where I am today.”

Crane pointed to summer mentor Kevin Hobbs with also playing a key part in a recruiting process that has now come to an end.

“I went to a couple of PBR showcases during the winter and a couple prospect camps like Notre Dame in the winter,” Crane related. “PBR got my stats out there to get information to the coaches and that helped.”

The idea of playing at the next level has been there since the beginning for the 25th-rated junior in the state.

“Since I picked up a baseball I fell in love with it,” Crane explained. “I’ve been playing since I was three or four and never want to stop playing. College baseball has always been a dream for me.”

It became realistic freshman year when Crane made the varsity team at Detroit Jesuit.

“That’s when I thought this could happen and I went full throttle into it,” Crane said.

The end result was a commitment to the university that family members like his great grandmother have been huge fans of for some time.

“It didn’t feel real when I committed,” Crane admitted. “When I told my grandparents about it they were super excited.”

A 3.45 student uncertain at this time on a college major, Crane believes he can make a big impact with the Atlantic Coast Conference program located 31/2 hours from home.

“I’ll bring competitiveness and the ability to win,” Crane said. “I think I’m good at that. Off the field I’ll promote the program and be close to teammates. I’ll help them win and be competitive.”

With college not far off in the future, Crane understands the importance of being ready once the time arrives to go off to school at Notre Dame.

“I’m excited to get on the campus in the fall of 2025,” Crane concluded. “The real work starts now. For the next year-and-a-half, before I go up there, I need to work so when I get there I can earn my spot.”