Former Major League Baseball outfielder and longtime Detroit Tigers broadcaster Craig Monroe has been indefinitely removed from his role as an analyst on Tigers broadcasts after a woman on social media accused him of past sexual abuse.
Monroe, 47, is accused of sexually abusing the woman, now 35, beginning when she was 12 years old. The woman’s family was Monroe’s host family while he played minor league baseball in Charlotte County, Florida, in the early 2000s, she told FOX2 Detroit.
The woman said Monroe’s sexual abuse continued until she was 18, at which point the two were in a consensual, sexual relationship. Monroe would “prostitute” the woman to his friends, she told FOX2.
The woman first posted about the allegations against Monroe in social media posts on X in June, but later deleted the original post.
However, an executive with Bally Sports Detroit – which broadcasts all Tigers games – saw the post before it was deleted, The Detroit News reports. Within 30 minutes of seeing the post, the executive demanded Monroe leave the Tigers’ home Comerica Ballpark, where he was preparing for a June 11 game against the Washington Nationals. Monroe has not been on Tigers broadcasts since. He first joined the Tigers’ broadcast crew as a studio analyst in 2012.
Monroe has not been criminally charged but is currently under investigation by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, per FOX2.
Monroe has denied the accusations against him.
“We will cooperate with law enforcement and are confident that once this case is fully investigated, Craig will be cleared of any wrongdoing,” his attorney said in a statement, FOX2 reports. “Craig Monroe takes allegations of this nature very seriously and would never commit or condone such despicable conduct. He and his family are shocked by these allegations and offer his accuser forgiveness and grace. We trust that law enforcement will uncover the truth regarding her background and motivations.”
The Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit issued a joint statement acknowledging the accusations against Monroe.
“Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are aware of the social-media allegations and take them seriously,” the Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit told The Detroit News. “As previously stated, Mr. Monroe has not been on the broadcast schedule, and that will continue on an indefinite basis. We will have no further comment and any questions should be directed to Mr. Monroe.”
Prior to his broadcasting career, Monroe played nine seasons in MLB from 2001 to 2009, including six-plus seasons with the Tigers. He also played one season each for the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates, and part of one season for the Chicago Cubs. He finished his MLB career with a .252 batting average, 115 home runs, 433 RBI and .742 OPS in 814 games played.