Ex-MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel rescued from nightclub roof collapse in Dominican Republic

UPDATE 2:00 p.m. ET: Octavio Dotel has passed away. He died while being transported to the hospital, according to MLB insider Héctor Gómez. He was 51.

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Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel was rescued alive after the ceiling in a Dominican Republic nightclub collapsed Monday night. Dotel was among dozens of people who were missing after the roof collapsed around 12:44 a.m. during singer Rubby Pérez‘s live performance at the Jet Set venue in Santo Domingo, per The Mirror.

At least 15 people have died in the incident, with 90 or more injured and rushed to the local hospital in the Dominican capital. Nelsy Cruz, sister of seven-time All-Star Nelson Cruz, was one of the casualties, per Gómez.

Octavio Dotel dies in Dominican Republic roof collapse

“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub,” Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader wrote on X. “We have followed the incident minute by minute since it occurred. All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”

Carolina Mejía de Garrigó, the mayor of Santo Domingo, added, “Our city wakes up to a terrible tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. My deepest sympathy goes out to the families still waiting for news of their loved ones. Since the early hours of the morning, we have deployed our Hurón team @BomberosDn, who are supporting the rescue efforts alongside the @Sistema911_RD. Our National District Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committee is active and in permanent session. We will continue to make every effort and remain united in prayer.”

Dotel pitched for 13 teams during his 15-year MLB career. He made 758 appearances (34 starts), going 59-50 with a 3.78 ERA. Dotel struck out 1,143 batters in 951 innings pitched. Dotel won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals.