Former MLB Pitcher Octavio Dotel Among Dozens Killed in Dominican Nightclub Collapse
Former Major League Baseball star Octavio Dotel was among over 120 people killed when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, collapsed during a packed concert in the early hours of April 8, 2025. Dotel was pulled from the rubble alive but tragically died on the way to the hospital, confirmed by the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
The disaster occurred during a live performance by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, drawing a crowd that included celebrities, politicians, and athletes. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Authorities reported around 255 injuries and confirmed the deaths of other notable figures, including ex-MLB player Tony Blanco and Monte Cristi governor Nelsy Cruz, sister of Nelson Cruz.
Dotel, 51, was a well-respected relief pitcher with a career that spanned multiple MLB teams. He was inducted into the Dominican Hall of Fame in 2024. His wife, Massiel Javier De Dotel, shared funeral details online.
Rubby Pérez, initially found alive and singing amid the debris, later succumbed to his injuries. His daughter and son-in-law, both present at the concert, survived—her husband shielding her during the collapse despite being injured himself.
Emergency responders have been working around the clock, with over 400 personnel on site. The Jet Set club expressed deep sorrow, stating, “This tragedy has deeply affected us all,” and pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations.
