Coco Crisp
Boston Red Sox — No. 10
Center Field
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
August 15, 2002 for the Cleveland Indians
Selected MLB statistics
(through July 6, 2007)
Batting average
.281
Home runs
48
RBI
240
Teams
Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp (born November 1, 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. He has a career batting average of .280 as of the end of the 2006 MLB season. Crisp is noted as much for his humorous and unique name as for his baseball skills. The Boston Globe reported that Crisp's grandmother called him "Co" when he was a child, and his two siblings nicknamed him "Coco" after the breakfast cereal, Cocoa Krispies.
Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999. On August 7, 2002, while playing at AA-level New Haven, Crisp was traded to Cleveland to complete an earlier trade for pitcher Chuck Finley.
Crisp became the starting center fielder with the Indians in mid-2002, replacing Milton Bradley. For the next few seasons, Crisp established a reputation as an excellent fielder and speedy baserunner. Despite his success, Crisp had to fight for his roster spot each spring. In 2005, Crisp moved to left field following the emergence of another young outfielder, Grady Sizemore. In his final two seasons with the Indians, Crisp showcased his offensive talent by batting .297 and .300 with 31 total home runs and 35 steals.
After Johnny Damon, the 2005 center fielder for the Red Sox, signed with the New York Yankees, the Red Sox sought Crisp to fill Damon's vacated role. In January 2006, the Red Sox sent prospect third baseman Andy Marte, pitcher Guillermo Mota, catcher Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later, and cash considerations to the Indians for Crisp and pitcher David Riske and catcher Josh Bard. Crisp, already a fan favorite in Cleveland, saw his national fame jump dramatically upon entering big-market Boston before playing a single game in a Red Sox uniform.
After promising start to his Red Sox career, which included signing a 3-year contract extension worth $15.5 million, Crisp broke his left index finger attempting to steal third base and spent many weeks on the disabled list. After returning to the Red Sox outfield on May 28th, Kevin Youkilis had taken over the leadoff spot, and Crisp usually batted 7th or 8th in the line-up for the rest of the year. In 105 games, he had a .264 batting average with 8 home runs and 36 RBIs. Crisp's 2006 season may be best remembered for a fantastic defensive catch that likely saved a run against the New York Mets on June 29th.
Crisp began the 2007 season struggling offensively. On April 20, 2007, Crisp fell over a short wall at Fenway Park while trying to catch a home run by Alex Rodriguez. Although he was unable to make the catch, missing by inches, he hit a game tying triple off of Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the eighth. The Red Sox went on to win 7-6. During this season he has made numerous impressive catches in the outfield. Although he has struggled at the plate throughout much of the season, between June 13 and July 5, Crisp raised his batting average from .221 to .265.
