ELKVILLE, IL - The Lafayette Aviators have announced that they have signed Chris Monroe, a 6'4", 220-pound, a first baseman from Champaign, Ilinois, a junior at the University of Illinois - Springfield, to a contract for the 2019 season.

A 2017 graduate from Grand Centennial High School, where he played varsity baseball for two years, Monroe is hitting.394 (13-for-38) with 11 RBI and a slash line of .394/.307/.474 through the first nine games of the season for the University of Illinois-Springfield squad.

On Monroe's signing, Aviator's head coach said, "At UIS he bats in the 3-4 spot & is a big-time contributor to the team being #1 in the nation for offense currently."

In his first two seasons in college, in 31 games, 74 at-bats, Monroe has hit a combined .297/.307/.568 with five home runs, five doubles, 24 RBI and offensively he's putting together an impressive season making great strides at the plate with his approach and discipline. 

Scout's take, "The big man at first base for UIS and eventually at Lafayette this summer, has dropped 30 pounds and improved on his conditioning and athleticism since high school, which has contributed significantly with his offensive production over the last two seasons in Springfield. Monroe has a nice swing with excellent plate discipline. He's struck out only four times in 38 at-bats so far this season. He is a physical presence at plate, he shows raw power potential, five home runs in 36 at-bats last season in Springfield but hasn't tapped into that power this season, but on the flip side, the plus side, he's added almost 100 points to his batting average and 109 points to his on-base-percentage since last year. He profiles as a first baseman, with significant potential if he taps into the reservoir of raw power without severely compromising his sound offensive approach at the plate."

PHOTO CREDIT - Lafayette Aviators