SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball pitcher renowned for his tenure with 13 different teams over a 15-year career, tragically passed away at the age of 51 following a catastrophic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning during a merengue concert by singer Rubby Pérez, who also perished in the collapse.
The disaster claimed at least 221 lives and injured over 150 individuals. Dotel was initially rescued from the debris but succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.
Among the deceased were former MLB player Tony Blanco and Nelsy Cruz, sister of MLB adviser Nelson Cruz. The tragedy has deeply affected the baseball community, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressing condolences and highlighting the profound connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic.
Dotel’s MLB career spanned from 1999 to 2013, during which he achieved a 3.78 ERA, 109 saves, and 1,143 strikeouts over 951 innings. He was part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2011 World Series-winning team and contributed to the Dominican Republic’s 2013 World Baseball Classic victory.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, with a commission of experts being assembled to determine the factors leading to the structural failure.
Dotel is survived by his wife, Massiel, and their children, Eduardo and Nicole.
The baseball world mourns the loss of Octavio Dotel, remembering his contributions to the sport and the indelible mark he left on the game.