Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, former Major League Baseball players, died of injuries suffered in a tragedy in a nightclub on Monday night (7) in the Dominican Republic.
Among the dead was the sister of athlete Nelson Cruz, Nelsy Milagros Cruz Martinez, governor of the Dominican province of Montecristi.
Dotel was supposedly alive when rescue teams located it, along with at least seven others, among the wreckage of a jet set roof, a popular night tourist spot in Santo Domingo, local authorities.
But authorities reported on Tuesday night that Dotel was declared dead when he arrived at a local hospital after being rushed to the medical center for serious injury treatment.
Less is known about Blanco, but her death was confirmed when she released her a statement about the tragedy on Tuesday night.
“Major League Baseball is deeply dismayed by the death of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz and all the victims of last night’s tragedy in Santo Domingo,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement.
“We send our sincere condolences to families and friends of all affected, as well as our colleague Nelson and his whole family. The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic is deep, and today we think of all Dominican players and fans.”
Several MLB teams, including Houston Astros, one of the 13 MLB clubs that Dotel represented during his career, released a statement after confirming his death.
Before Tuesday’s start, he made it a minute of silence in memory of Dotel and issued a brief statement.
Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz confirmed the news that his sister had died after a statement by President Luis Abinader.
Dotel, 51, was a native of Santo Domingo and played in 13 teams throughout his career from 1999 to 2013. He had a history of 59-50, a 3.78 and 109 defenses in 758 games (34 as a starter). He won the 2011 World Series as St. Louis Cardinals athlete.
Blanco, 43, participated in 56 games for Washington Nationals in 2005, his only season in MLB.
Nelson Cruz played for eight league teams from 2005 to 2023 and was seven times all-star.
