Ex-MLB Players Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco Die in Nightclub Tragedy

Former Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco’s major leagues players were part of more than 60 people who died after the roof of an emblematic nightclub collapsed in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, the Dominican national police confirmed.

Managers said that at least 66 people had been killed, a number that also included Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwest province of Monte Cristi and the sister of the seven time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz. 160 other people were injured, according to the Dominican civil defense.

The collapse occurred around 1 a.m. during a Merengue concert, which attracted athletes, politicians and others to the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital. It was not immediately clear which caused the roof collapse.

“Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passages of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz and all the victims of the tragedy last night in Santo Domingo,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred in a press release. “We send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been touched and to our colleague Nelson and to his whole family.

“The link between baseball and the Dominican Republic is deep, and we think of all Dominican players and fans through the game today.”

The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic has also confirmed Dotel’s death on social networks.

Dotel, which recorded 36 stops for the Houston Astros and athletics in 2004, was removed from the rubble about six hours after collapse and was transported to hospital.

“Dotel was taken to one of the designated hospitals. On the way, his condition worsened and he died,” said the spokesperson for the Dominican national police, Diego Pesqueira.

Dotel, 51, began his career in the major league in 1999 with the New York Mets, which held a moment of silence for Dotel before Tuesday’s match. In 2011, he helped St. Louis’ cardinals to win a world series. During its 15 years in the majors with 13 different teams, Dotel recorded 109 stops and recorded an MPM of 3.78.

We have a broken heart to learn the new tragic that the old launcher Astros Octavio Dotel was one of the many deceased when a roof collapsed in his native Dominican Republic last night.

Dotel, 51, spent five seasons (2000-04) of his major in exceptional 15 years … pic.twitter.com/wqu3h7rko

– Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2025

Blanco, 43, was in the minor leagues from 2000 to 2008, reaching the majors for 56 games in 2005 with the Nationals of Washington, reaching 0.215 with a Home Run and Seven Product points. After his MLB career, he played in Japan and in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Ministry of the Republic of Sports and Leisure has confirmed the death of Blanco. His son, Tony Blanco Jr., is in the agricultural system of Pittsburgh Pirates.

Nelsy Cruz had called President Luis Abinader at 12:49 p.m. saying that she was trapped and that the roof had collapsed, said First Lady Raquel Arbaje. Officials said Cruz died later in a hospital.

“It’s too great tragedy,” said an emotional arbaje.

President Abinader, who was on the scene, wrote on X that all rescue agencies “work tirelessly” to help people affected.

Almost 12 hours after the top of the nightclub collapsed on customers, the rescue teams still removed the survivors from the debris. On the scene, the firefighters removed broken concrete blocks and sawn wood planks to use them to lift heavy debris while the noise of the exercises that break through the concrete filled the air.

“We have faith in God that we will save even more living people,” said journalists.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.