Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe has been accused of abusing a 12-year-old girl decades earlier and later ‘prostituting’ her to his friends after she turned 18.
The accuser, who remains anonymous, made the accusations to police, on social media, and with Detroit’s Fox affiliate.
Now a Tigers analyst, Monroe has been removed from the team’s broadcasts, according to a statement by Bally Sports Detroit.
‘Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are aware of the social media allegations and take them seriously,’ the statement began. ‘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.’
The alleged abuse took place when Monroe was in his early 20s. The victim’s family was reportedly his host family during his minor league days in Charlotte County, Florida in the early 2000s, according to Detroit’s Fox 2.
Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe has been accused of abusing a 12-year-old girl
However, Monroe’s page on MiLB.com’s website lists him as a member of the Single-A Charlotte Rangers of the Florida State League in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Monroe allegedly began sneaking into her room the fondle the woman and ultimately had intercourse with her when she was 15. Later, after she turned 18, the two were in an ongoing consensual sexual relationship, but as she told Detroit’s Fox 2, Monroe would ‘prostitute’ her to his friends.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Monroe has been a Tigers broadcaster since 2012.
His accuser told Fox 2 that she delayed making her allegations publicly due to concern for her family.
Monroe did not respond to Fox 2’s requests for comment.
Born in Texarkana, Texas, Monroe was taken by the Rangers in the eighth round of the 1995 MLB Draft.
Although he would make his debut with Texas in 2001, he would ultimately be claimed off waivers by the Tigers, for whom he spent the bulk of his eight-year career.
Monroe was a member of the 2006 Detroit Tigers, who fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. After hitting 28 home runs during the regular season, Monroe bashed six more during Detroit’s postseason run.
He later called it quits after a brief stint with the 2009 Pittsburgh Pirates.
