“Gone Too Soon”: Baseball Mourns Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco After Nightclub Tragedy

Gone Too Soon: Baseball Mourns the Loss of Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco in Nightclub Tragedy

 

The baseball world is in mourning following the devastating deaths of former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, who were killed in a tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 8, 2025.

 

The nightclub, a popular venue known for live music, was hosting a concert by legendary merengue singer Rubby Pérez when the structure suddenly gave way. Over 230 people lost their lives in the incident, including Pérez, while more than 225 others were injured in what is being called one of the deadliest nightclub disasters in Caribbean history.

 

A Baseball Icon Remembered

 

Octavio Dotel, 51, was widely respected in Major League Baseball for his durability and skill. A veteran of 15 MLB seasons, Dotel played for a record 13 teams, including the Astros, Yankees, and Cardinals, and earned a World Series ring with St. Louis in 2011. He also played a key role in the Dominican Republic’s triumph at the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

 

Dotel was reportedly rescued from the rubble but tragically died from his injuries while en route to a hospital. Tributes have poured in from across the baseball community, praising his leadership, humor, and enduring passion for the game.

 

A Hero’s Final Act

 

Tony Blanco, 43, who had a brief MLB stint with the Washington Nationals before enjoying success in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, also died in the collapse. In a remarkable display of bravery, Blanco pushed his friend and former teammate Esteban Germán out of the way just before the roof gave in, saving his life but losing his own.

 

Blanco’s legacy lives on through his son, Tony Blanco Jr., a rising talent in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

 

A Nation Grieves

 

The tragedy has shaken the Dominican Republic to its core. President Luis Abinader has declared a national period of mourning. For a country that reveres baseball and its heroes, the loss of Dotel and Blanco is a painful blow.

 

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred offered his condolences, saying, “We are heartbroken by the loss of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, and all the victims of this unimaginable tragedy. Their impact on and off the field will never be forgotten.”

 

As investigations continue into the cause of the collapse, fans, players, and communities are coming together to honor the memories of two men who gave their all — in baseball and in life.