Octavio Dotel Including Those Killed in Santo Domingo Roof Cave-In

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Octavio Dotel, who had a 15-year career in the major leagues and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, was among the fatalities resulting from a roof collapse at a nightclub where he attended a merengue concert. He was 51-years-old. Initially, officials announced that Dotel was rescued from the wreckage and taken to a hospital before his death later that day. At least 79 people perished, and 160 were injured in the nightclub disaster. Tony Blanco, a former major league player with a career in Japan, and Nelsy Cruz, sister of Nelson Cruz who is currently an MLB special adviser, also lost their lives. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed deep sadness, sending condolences to the families and colleagues of those affected. The MLB Players Association pledged unity with the Dominican community, mourning the victims and offering support to the families left behind. Dotel, who signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Mets in 1993, evolved from a starter into a powerful reliever over his career. He set a record in 2012 playing for 13 major league teams until Edwin Jackson surpassed that number in 2019. The Mets honored Dotel by holding a moment of silence at their game against Miami, displaying the Dominican flag on the scoreboard. Dotel’s career highlights include his time with the Houston Astros, where he was a key setup man for Billy Wagner, and his presence in the 2013 World Baseball Classic-winning Dominican Republic team. Despite legal troubles in 2019 related to drug trafficking and money laundering, which resulted in his release due to insufficient evidence, Dotel left behind a notable legacy in baseball.

Source: https://time.com/7275907/octavio-dotel-baseball-pitcher-death-obituary-dominican-republic-roof-collapse/