Former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel was among those who lost their lives when the roof of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed early Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred at Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where at least 58 people were killed and 160 others were injured during a merengue concert attended by prominent figures, including athletes and politicians.
Dotel, 51, began his MLB career with the New York Mets in 1999 and played for a then-record 13 different teams over 15 seasons. He spent the bulk of his career with the Houston Astros from 2000 to 2004 and achieved his greatest success with the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the World Series with them in 2011. His final MLB appearance was with the Detroit Tigers in 2013. Known for his powerful strikeouts, Dotel was considered one of the premier relief pitchers during his peak.
The Houston Astros paid tribute to Dotel in a statement Tuesday: “We are devastated by the tragic news of Octavio Dotel’s passing in his home country. During his time in Houston, he was a cornerstone of our bullpen, excelling alongside Hall of Famer Billy Wagner and All-Star Brad Lidge. With 159 appearances between 2002 and 2003, he ranked second in the majors during that span, posting an impressive 2.15 ERA.”
During a Mets-Marlins broadcast, longtime Mets announcer Gary Cohen said, “Everyone who knew Octavio loved him.”
Also killed in the collapse was Tony Blanco, another Dominican player who had a brief MLB stint with the Washington Nationals in 2005.
Dotel had faced major challenges in his life, including the tragic loss of his father, who was murdered during a robbery. He once shared that baseball helped him cope: “If I go to the ballpark and think about him all the time, I can’t do anything. I just keep playing and chasing my dreams. I think God helped me. I’m here, and I’m grateful. I wish my dad could see it, but death is a part of life.”
Jet Set nightclub has stated that it is fully cooperating with the authorities, adding, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and remain in a state of shock and sorrow