Baseball fans are in mourning after the death of former Major League pitcher Octavio Dotel in the Dominican Republic nightclub collapse.
The 51-year-old is among 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 host of teams during his 14-year career, including the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and St Louis Cardinals. He won the 2011 World Series with the Cardinals.
Reports initially claimed that the former pitcher had been rescued from the rubble after screaming for help. But Dotel’s brother Angel later told El Nuevo Diario newspaper that he died before being pulled from underneath the debris.
‘They told us he was alive, but in reality he was dead, since last night,’ Angel said. ‘The blow hit him on the head and it seems that it broke his neck.’
Tributes quickly poured in from the baseball community, with one fan writing on social media: ‘There are not enough words to express what one feels when faced with such a loss.
Baseball fans are in mourning after the death of former Major League pitcher Octavio Dotel
The 51-year-old is among those who died after the ceiling collapsed at the Jet Set night club
‘RIP to a legend on and off the diamond. Gone way too soon,’ one fan said about the 51-year-old
At least 44 people were killed in the tragedy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Dotel, who last played in 2013, is pictured with his wife Massiel and their three children
‘May God receive Octavio Dotel in his glory and bring comfort to his loved ones. May the souls of all those who passed away rest in peace and may their families find strength.’
Another added: ‘This one stings. RIP to a legend on and off the diamond. Gone way too soon.’
A third fan mourned the ‘terrible news’ while a fourth said Dotel was a ‘true lover of our culture and music and was probably there doing what he loved, listening to music.’
Dotel was reportedly declared dead at an area hospital after being removed from the wreckage of the roof collapse.
More than 140 people have been injured at an event where revelers gathered to watch a performance by singer Rubby Perez.
Also among the dead was the sister of Nelson Cruz, Nelsy Milagros Cruz Martinez, the governor of the Montecristi province of the Dominican Republic.
Cruz played for eight MLB teams between 2005 and 2023 and was a seven-time All-Star.
