Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel was reportedly among those who died when the roof of a nightclub collapsed during a concert in the Dominican Republic early Tuesday morning.
Dotel was part of the crowd at a concert for merengue star Rubby Perez at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, which is Dotel’s hometown. Authorities said on Tuesday afternoon that at least 44 people died and more than 150 others were injured when the roof of the venue collapsed.
It appears that Dotel survived the collapse and was pulled from the rubble but died as a result of his injuries.
MLB reporter Hector Gomez said on Tuesday morning that Dotel was rescued alive. A few hours later, Gomez reported that the 51-year-old died while being transported to a local hospital.
Officials have not offered any information about what may have caused the roof to collapse. Search and rescue efforts were still ongoing as of Tuesday afternoon.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi and the sister of former MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, was reportedly one of the people who were killed.
Dotel, 51, pitched 15 MLB seasons for a number of different teams. The right-hander won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals after he was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays midway through the 2011 season. Dotel went 3-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 29 appearances with the Cardinals that season.
Dotel finished with a 3.78 ERA, 127 holds and 109 saves in his career.
