{{short description|American baseball player and analyst (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Craig Monroe | image = Craig Monroe.jpg | image_size = | caption = Monroe with the Minnesota Twins in 2008 | position = Outfielder | bats = Right | throws = Right | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|2|27}} | birth_place = Texarkana, Texas, U.S. |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = July 28 | debutyear = 2001 | debutteam = Texas Rangers |finalleague = MLB | finaldate = June 16 | finalyear = 2009 | finalteam = Pittsburgh Pirates |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .252 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 115 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 433 | teams = * Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2001}}) * Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2007}}) * Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2007}}) * Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2008}}) * Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2009}}) }} [[File:C-mo to Rodney.jpg|200px|thumb|Monroe (left) talks to teammate Fernando Rodney in 2006.]]
'''Craig Keystone Monroe''' (nicknamed "C. Mo") (born February 27, 1977) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and current sportscaster. He played for the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates.<ref name="fsd2">{{cite web |title=Craig Monroe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/monrocr01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
==Professional career== Monroe was selected by the Texas Rangers in the eighth round (206th overall) of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=8th Round of the 1995 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1995&draft_round=8&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He made his major league debut on July 28, 2001, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, going 0-for-3 as the Rangers lost 7–3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2001 |title=Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs Texas Rangers Box Score: July 28, 2001 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200107280.shtml |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The next day, Monroe hit first major league home run off Devil Rays pitcher Joe Kennedy in a 2–0 victory for the Rangers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2001 |title=Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs Texas Rangers Box Score: July 29, 2001 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200107290.shtml |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He appeared in 27 games for the Rangers in 2001, batting .212 with two home runs and 5 RBI.<ref name="fsd2" />
On February 1, 2002, Monroe was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers organization.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2002 |title=Tigers Claim Monroe Off Waivers |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Tigers-Claim-Monroe-Off-Waivers-7065351.php |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Connecticut Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> He played in his first full major league season in 2003, batting .240 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI in 128 games.<ref name="fsd2" />
On July 19, 2006, Monroe hit a grand slam home run off Javier Vázquez of the Chicago White Sox which was decisive in the Tigers 5–2 win. At the time, the teams were locked in a struggle for the American League Central division lead. Monroe called it "by far the biggest one I've ever hit."<ref>{{cite web |date=July 19, 2006 |title=Monroe's grand slam sends Tigers past White Sox |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260719106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305144150/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260719106 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=February 28, 2014 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Monroe finished the 2006 season batting .255 with a team-leading 28 home runs and 92 RBI in 147 games.<ref name="fsd2" /> His 92 RBI and 35 doubles also ranked second on team.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2006 Detroit Tigers Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2006.shtml |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Tigers turned around more than a decade of losing with 95 wins, and made the postseason.<ref name=":0" /> He also hit five home runs in the 2006 postseason, which culminated in a World Series appearance.<ref name="fsd2" />
Monroe played in 99 games with the Tigers in 2007, batting .222 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI.<ref name="fsd2" /> On August 17, 2007, the Tigers designated Monroe for assignment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beck |first=Jason |date=August 17, 2007 |title=Tigers call up Maybin; Monroe out |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070817&content_id=2153774&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819181510/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070817&content_id=2153774&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |archive-date=August 19, 2007 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Detroit Tigers |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> On August 23, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morosi |first=Jon Paul |date=August 24, 2007 |title=Monroe traded to Cubs to join Trammell; Tigers might get left-hander back |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/SPORTS02/708240406/1048&&imw=Y |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831051651/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070824%2FSPORTS02%2F708240406%2F1048&&imw=Y |archive-date=August 31, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2007 |website=Detroit Free Press }}</ref> Monroe played with the Cubs for the remainder of the 2007 season. The Tigers received Clay Rapada to complete the trade on August 30.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2007 |title=Tigers acquire Clay Rapada from Chicago Cubs |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179202&vkey=pr_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912060055/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179202&vkey=pr_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |archive-date=September 12, 2007 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Detroit Tigers |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> On November 13, Monroe was traded to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thesier |first=Kelly |date=November 13, 2007 |title=Twins acquire Monroe from Cubs |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071113&content_id=2299500&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116090114/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071113&content_id=2299500&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=November 16, 2007 |access-date=June 24, 2014 |work=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> On August 1, 2008, Monroe was designated for assignment by the Twins,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nystrom |first=Thor |date=August 1, 2008 |title=Twins recall Liriano from Triple-A |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080801&content_id=3235815&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805120057/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080801&content_id=3235815&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=August 5, 2008 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Minnesota Twins}}</ref> and released on August 8.<ref name="fsd2" />
Monroe signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on January 13, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kovacevic |first=Dejan |date=January 13, 2009 |title=Pirates sign outfielder, catcher to minor league contracts |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09013/941450-100.stm |url-status=dead |access-date=January 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522131042/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09013/941450-100.stm |archive-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref> Monroe was added to the Major League roster at the end of spring training.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |date=April 1, 2009 |title=Cruz, Monroe earn final two spots |url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090401&content_id=4101898&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403133115/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090401&content_id=4101898&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |access-date=April 2, 2009 |website=Pittsburgh Pirates |publisher=MLB.com }}</ref> Monroe was designated for assignment on June 20 to make room on the roster for Steve Pearce.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sio |first=Cheng |date=June 20, 2009 |title=Monroe is designated for assignment to make room for touted prospect |url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090620&content_id=5427524&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626111357/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090620&content_id=5427524&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |archive-date=June 26, 2009 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |website=Pittsburgh Pirates |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> Monroe was released on July 1, after which he retired as an active player.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholson-Smith |first=Ben |date=July 1, 2009 |title=Pirates Release Craig Monroe |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/pirates-release-craig-monroe.html |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Retirement activities== Monroe became a studio analyst for the Detroit Tigers on Bally Sports Detroit in 2012 and started serving as an occasional color analyst on game broadcasts. In 2022, Monroe could be heard on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network as a color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson on select road games. Monroe was promoted to the primary analyst for Tigers game broadcasts on Bally Sports Detroit in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petzold |first1=Evan |date=February 2, 2023 |title=Bally Sports Detroit hires Cameron Maybin, Todd Jones to Tigers TV, promotes Craig Monroe |work=Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2023/02/02/detroit-tigers-tv-broadcasts-cameron-maybin-todd-jones-bally-sports-detroit/69856452007/ |access-date=February 2, 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Monroe's mother's name is Marilyn Monroe, the same as that of the actress. She was on hand to watch her son hit a go-ahead home run against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2006. After the game, he told the media, "Marilyn Monroe is here in New York, and I'm thrilled."<ref>{{cite web |last=Beck |first=Jason |date=August 31, 2006 |title=Monroe's clutch homer is for Mom |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060830&content_id=1637156&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308012119/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060830&content_id=1637156&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |archive-date=March 8, 2009 |access-date=September 9, 2007 |website=Detroit Tigers |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> Monroe and his wife, Kasey, have three children.
On July 1, 2024, Bally Sports Detroit and Tigers radio indefinitely suspended Monroe after it was announced he is being investigated for sex crimes in Charlotte County, Florida against a now 35-year-old woman starting when she was 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/broadcaster-former-tigers-player-craig-monroe-accused-sexual-abuse|title=Broadcaster, former Tigers player Craig Monroe accused of sexual abuse|work=Fox 2 Detroit|date=July 1, 2024|author=Dupnack, Jessica}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2024/07/02/florida-police-department-confirms-active-investigation-involving-craig-monroe/|title=Florida police department confirms active investigation involving Craig Monroe|work=WDIV|date=July 2, 2024|author=Hutchinson, Derick}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats |mlb=407155 |espn=4824 |br=m/monrocr01 |fangraphs=1464|brm=monroe001cra}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monroe, Craig}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:African-American baseball players Category:Baseball players from Dallas Category:Charleston RiverDogs players Category:Chicago Cubs players Category:Detroit Tigers announcers Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Hudson Valley Renegades players Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters Category:Major League Baseball left fielders Category:Minnesota Twins players Category:Oklahoma RedHawks players Category:Baseball players from Texarkana, Texas Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Baseball players from Arlington, Texas Category:Texas Rangers players Category:Toledo Mud Hens players Category:Tulsa Drillers players Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen