Former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel has died at age 51 following a tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo’s National District, according to multiple news sources. Dotel was initially rescued alive from the rubble after the collapse occurred early Tuesday morning, as reported by NoticiasSin.com and journalist Dionisio Soldevila. However, he later died while being transported to the hospital, according to Diario Libre and Hector Gomez.
Dotel had a notable 15-year career in Major League Baseball, playing for a record 13 teams, including the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the first player to wear that many team uniforms until Edwin Jackson surpassed the record in 2019. Dotel earned a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011 and retired with a 59-50 win-loss record, a 3.78 ERA, and 109 saves over 758 games.
La Nacion reported that former MLB players Esteban Germán and Henry Blanco were also present at the nightclub during the performance of merengue singer Rubby Pérez but had left before the collapse. Authorities revealed that 101 ambulance trips were made to hospitals in the aftermath.
Videos circulating on social media showed panic inside the club as the roof began to fall during Pérez’s performance. One of the victims was Nelsy Cruz, sister of former MLB slugger Nelson Cruz. Pérez reportedly survived the collapse.
The Ministry of Public Works has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident, and the nightclub remains under inspection. The mayor of Santo Domingo, Carolina Mejía de Garrigó, expressed condolences on social media, describing the event as a “terrible tragedy.”
According to The New York Times, the disaster has claimed at least 27 lives, casting a shadow of grief over the city and the Dominican baseball community.
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