How Notre Dame Landed 2025 LHP Caden Crowell Over SEC Powerhouses
2025 Valparaiso (Ind.) RHP Caden Crowell grew up 62 minutes from the glow of Notre Dame’s Golden Dome.
In fact, Notre Dame had been the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder’s dream school dating back to his childhood. Yet, Crowell wasn’t really recruited by Link Jarrett despite camping at Notre Dame and he eventually committed to powerhouse Louisville.
Jarrett left for Florida State and Shawn Stiffler arrived in South Bend, but Crowell was more than happy with his commitment to the Cardinals.
In November of 2022, 2025 Noblesville (Ind.) RHP Joe Glander committed to Notre Dame, which caught the eye of Crowell as an in-state recruit was headed to South Bend.
“I committed to Louisville and then Joe Glander committed to Notre Dame,” Crowell told ISD. “I was like, ‘Joe, you’re going to Notre Dame?’ And he said they got new coaches and that he loved them. I thought about it and my mom said if I wanted to decommit, it was my decision and I only go to college once.
“I decommitted and Notre Dame was the first team to reach out to me on August 1st. It went off from there and they did a great job of recruiting me.”
Crowell took a visit to Notre Dame for the weekend Tennessee State came to play the Fighting Irish and committed on September 14th.
“I loved the visit,” stated Crowell. “The environment there was just awesome. I loved the coaches and they have an awesome vibe with the team. The way the coaches talk to players - I just loved everything about it.”
The Indiana native may have wanted to go to Notre Dame, but following his commitment, Crowell learned he was a coveted prospect as his phone was buzzing.
But that was just the start.
“At first it was hard to look through them all,” said Crowell. “It was overwhelming. When I decommitted, I think I had 15 schools reach out, but after I pitched at the Area Code Games, my phone was blowing up. I think I ended up with over 40 schools contacting me.
“I was really particular on who I talked to and who I wanted to visit. I only had three visits lined up. I went to Notre Dame and I was blown away. It was what I envisioned it as a kid because that’s where I always wanted to go.”
Notre Dame pitching coach Seth Voltz led the charge as he was able to show Crowell a plan for development. Voltz’s plan isn’t just a big-picture plan, but rather a daily progression that’s tailored to each pitcher.
Voltz also used technology and metrics to help his pitchers build strengths and improve weaknesses, which left Crowell impressed.
“He is one of the only coaches I talked to who said they give each player a day-to-day goal so they know what to work on,” explained Crowell. “I was blown away by that. No other Power Five coaches said that. He said they use the metrics to our strengths, but he wasn’t going to throw them at me.
“He is going to help us digest the metrics to use them to our advantage. I think that’s a huge part because baseball is becoming the metrics game. Spin rate is huge. Coach Voltz is going to be able to develop me into the pitcher I know I can be.”
Perhaps the moment Crowell knew he was headed for a career in South Bend was at dinner with the staff.
“At dinner, I was in the corner and Coach (Shawn) Stiffler was on my left, Coach (Logan) Robbins was right across from me and Coach (Ryan) Munger was at the head of the table,” Crowell said. “I was in the trio of getting to know the coaches I hadn’t talked to before.
“I was blown away by all three of them and how much personality they have. I loved being around them. They are just really genuine people.”
Robbins then closed the door on Crowell’s recruitment with a heart-to-heart conversation.
“It was right before I went into my meeting with Coach Stiffler and Coach Robbins explained how being close to home can impact your happiness,” Crowell recalled. “Happiness is a key to success. That stuck with me and I know my family is a huge part of my success and why I’ve become the player I am.”
However, Crowell left campus without giving a pledge to the Irish, which left Notre Dame’s staff uneasy as the lefty had visits to LSU and Tennessee on the calendar.
“I wanted to go to Tennessee because Coach (Tony) Vitello was an awesome guy,” Crowell explained. “I talked to him over the phone and I liked him. I went there to compare it to Notre Dame and it just wasn’t Notre Dame. Notre Dame just stood out. I canceled my LSU visit because Notre Dame blew me away - the campus, student life and the coaches.”
Crowell will now get to join forces with Glander, but also several in-state commits and they hope to send a message during their time in South Bend.
“I’ve played with Joe since the Future Games and I’ve gotten to know him,” said Crowell. “Joe is one of my really good friends. We’re all from up North and want to prove ourselves. Everyone says baseball is better in the South, but you gotta give some props to players in the North.
“I think with all these players we’re getting, we have a great shot at making it to Omaha.”
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