A former Atlanta Braves player, Octavio Dotel, tragically lost his life this week when the roof of a nightclub collapsed during a concert in the Dominican Republic. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where Dotel, 51, was among at least 113 people who died in the disaster. More than 250 others were injured. Merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was performing at the time of the collapse, was also found dead in the rubble on Wednesday.
The collapse has left the country in mourning, with rescue operations continuing as authorities search for any survivors. Emergency crews are committed to digging through the rubble for as long as there are missing persons reports. In addition to Dotel, other notable figures, including Dominican professional baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera and Nelsy Cruz, the sister of former MLB star Nelson Cruz, also lost their lives in the incident.
Major League Baseball (MLB) expressed its sorrow over the tragedy, issuing a statement that acknowledged the deaths of Dotel, Blanco, Cruz, and others. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred sent condolences to the victims’ families and recognized the deep connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic. Dotel, though with the Braves for only a brief period during the 2007 season, was remembered fondly by the baseball community, including the Braves, who expressed their sympathies on social media.
Dotel had a long and varied career in Major League Baseball, playing for 13 teams over his 15 years in the league. While he played only nine games for the Braves, his time in Atlanta was marked by solid performance, striking out 12 batters in 7.2 innings. His passing has affected both the baseball community and his fans, particularly those in the Dominican Republic.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader also responded to the tragedy, offering condolences and reassuring the public that all available resources were being used in the rescue efforts. The government has been closely monitoring the situation, and relief agencies have been working around the clock to assist the victims.
As of Wednesday morning, officials had only identified 32 of the victims, and investigations into the cause of the collapse continue. The tragedy has left a deep scar on the Dominican Republic, especially for those connected to the world of baseball, as it claimed the lives of beloved figures in the sport.
