Content warning: This article contains descriptions of alleged cases of sexual assault and abuse.
Former MLB outfielder and current Detroit Tigers broadcaster Craig Monroe has been away from the booth for about a month after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman when she was a minor, the team and Bally Sports Detroit confirmed Monday.
Monroe is the Tigers’ lead television analyst on Bally Sports Detroit, though he has not been in the booth since June 9. The team and network said in a statement last month that he was “addressing a personal matter,” but went further in a new Joint statement provided to Awful Announcing on Monday.
“Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are aware of the allegations on social media and take them seriously,” the Tigers and the network said in a statement. “As previously stated, Mr. Monroe has not been on broadcast programming and that will continue indefinitely. We will not be commenting further and any questions should be directed to Mr. Monroe.”
Monroe was accused on social media of sexually assaulting a woman when she was 12 while he was playing in the minor leagues. The abuse, she said, continued well into her adult life. The woman said she initially reached out to the network and team about her allegations without getting a response, prompting her to post them on social media last month.
Monroe played nine seasons in MLB, beginning with the Texas Rangers in 2001. He spent five-plus seasons playing for the Tigers and closed his career with brief stints with the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates before retiring after the 2009 campaign. He finished his career with a .252 batting average with 115 home runs and 433 RBIs.
Monroe then began as a broadcaster for the Tigers in 2012, and began this season as their lead analyst on Bally Sports Detroit.
Monroe has not responded publicly to the allegations. It is unclear when, if at all, she will return to her position at Bally Sports.
