Baseball fans are in mourning after the death of the former Lagues of Major Octavio Dotel in the collapse of the nightclub of the Dominican Republic.
The 51 -year -old man is part of at least 44 people who died after the ceiling collapsed at the Jet Set Club in his hometown, Santo Domingo on Tuesday.
Dotel played for a multitude of teams during his 14 -year career, notably the Astros of Houston, the Tigers and St Louis Cardinals. He won the 2011 World Series with the Cardinals.
The reports initially said that the former launcher had been saved from the rubble after having shouted for help. But Dotel’s brother Angel later said to the newspaper in El Nuevo Diario that he died before being taken from under the debris.
“They told us that he was alive, but in reality he had died since last night,” said Angel. “The blow struck him on his head and it seems that he was broken his neck.
Tributes quickly flocked from the baseball community, with a fan writing on social networks: “There are not enough words to express what you feel in the face of such a loss.
Baseball fans are in mourning after the death of the old launcher of the major leagues Octavio Dotel
The 51 -year -old man is one of those who died after the collapse of the ceiling at the Jet Set Night Club
“Rip has a legend out of and off the diamond. Let’s go too early ” said a fan about the 51 -year -old
At least 44 people were killed in the tragedy of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Dotel, who played for the last time in 2013, is represented with his wife Massiel and their three children
“May God receive Octavio Dotel in his glory and bring comfort to his loved ones. That the souls of all those who died rest in peace and that their families find the strength.
Another added: “He stings. Rippose a legend out of and off the diamond. Left too early.
A third fan cried the “terrible news” while a fourth said that Dotel was a “real lover of our culture and our music and was probably there to do what he loved, listening to music”.
Dotel was reportedly declared dead in a hospital in the region after being removed from the wreckage of the roof collapse.
More than 140 people were injured at an event where revelers gathered to watch a performance by singer Rubby Perez.
Among the dead, the sister of Nelson Cruz, Nelsy Milagros Cruz Martinez, governor of the province of Montecristi of the Dominican Republic.
Cruz played for eight MLB teams between 2005 and 2023 and was seven stars.