{"id":25374,"date":"2025-04-09T16:10:36","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T16:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=25374"},"modified":"2025-04-09T16:10:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T16:10:36","slug":"ex-mlb-star-dies-on-the-way-to-the-hospital-what-happened","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=25374","title":{"rendered":"Ex-MLB Star Dies on the Way to the Hospital \u2013 What Happened"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The ex-MLB pitcher was among the dozens killed when a popular nightclub’s roof collapsed during a packed concert in the Dominican Republic. Read on for more heartbreaking details.<\/p>\n

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Former Major League Baseball player Octavio Dotel died on the way to the hospital after being rescued from the rubble of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The collapse occurred early morning on April 8, 2025.<\/p>\n

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General M\u00e9ndez\u00a0confirmed<\/a>\u00a0to Noticias SIN that Octavio had been pulled out alive but did not survive the journey to the hospital. He was one of more than 90 people who lost their lives in the incident,\u00a0according to the Dominican National Police.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Authorities\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0that the number of confirmed fatalities had reached at least 98 by Wednesday, April 9, 2025. In addition to the fatalities, approximately 160 people sustained injuries.<\/p>\n

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Among the deceased were Tony Blanco, another former major league player, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Monte Cristi. Nelsy was the sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The\u00a0tragic event took place<\/a>\u00a0around 1 a.m. during a live concert, which had drawn a large crowd, including athletes, politicians, and other public figures. The venue, Jet Set nightclub, is a well-known establishment in the Dominican capital.<\/p>\n

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Officials have not yet determined the cause of the collapse. The investigation into the structural failure is ongoing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tributes began pouring in across the country following confirmation of Octavio’s passing. Dominican politician Kelvin Cruz\u00a0shared<\/a>\u00a0a profoundly heartwarming post on Instagram.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He\u00a0wrote,<\/a> “We deeply regret the passing of former Major Leagues and Immortal of Dominican Sport, Octavio Dotel. His legacy on and off the field leaves an indelible mark on national baseball history. May his soul rest in peace and may his family and loved ones find strength.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Octavio’s wife, Massiel Javier De Dotel,\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0funeral arrangements through her own Instagram post. She shared that posthumous honors would be held at Jard\u00edn Memorial Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 9, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., continuing the next day from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A Christian burial would follow at Jard\u00edn Memorial Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. on April 10. The message, addressed to the educational community, friends, family, and faith members, was\u00a0signed,<\/a> “The Dotel Javier Family.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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According to Lanacion,<\/a> Massiel had been present at the accident site, anxiously awaiting news of her husband’s rescue in the hours following the incident.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Octavio Dotel was born on November 25, 1973, in Santo Domingo. He played as a professional relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, batting and throwing right-handed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Over his\u00a0MLB career,<\/a> Dotel achieved 109 saves, a 3.78 ERA, 1,143 strikeouts, and a 1.24 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). He played for multiple teams over the years and earned recognition as a dependable figure on the mound.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In 2024, he was inducted into the Dominican Hall of Fame. His wife celebrated the achievement in a heartfelt\u00a0Instagram tribute.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In her message, Massiel praised not only his athletic accomplishments but also his character and role within their family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Octavio<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Octavio Dotel is pictured throwing a baseball ball in the air, dated September 3, 2024 | Source: Instagram\/massieljavierdotel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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She\u00a0wrote<\/a>\u00a0that seeing him honored was “a dream come true” and reflected on the many sacrifices he made during his career \u2014 including time spent away from home and personal challenges \u2014 to reach his goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Massiel\u00a0added<\/a>\u00a0that Octavio had always carried the country’s name “with such pride” and described him as someone who possessed a unique blend of humility and strength.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Octavio<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Octavio Dotel holds a baseball ball, as seen in a photo shared on September 3, 2024 | Source: Instagram\/massieljavierdotel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Her message<\/a>\u00a0was filled with personal words of admiration, “You’re my life partner, the man who inspires me every day, and the wonderful father to our children. This achievement is just one more example of the great human being you are.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Massiel\u00a0concluded<\/a> the post with, “I love you with all my heart, and today I celebrate with you, excited for everything you’ve accomplished and filled with love for the man you’ve always been.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The loss of Octavio, Tony, and Nelsy has left a deep impact on communities across the country. Baseball remains a source of national pride in the Dominican Republic, and Octavio’s death has resonated not only with fans of the sport but also with those who admired his contributions off the field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Their deaths occurred as part of a larger tragedy that unfolded early Tuesday morning, when a roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo claimed dozens of lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At the time, at least 27 people were confirmed dead and over 150 were reported injured. The tragic incident unfolded during a live concert by merengue singer Rubby P\u00e9rez.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The venue was filled with hundreds of attendees when part of the ceiling gave way, trapping dozens beneath the rubble in what has become one of the worst nightclub disasters in the country’s history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The roof\u00a0gave way<\/u><\/a>\u00a0around 12:44 a.m. during the event, triggering panic as a large section fell on the crowd. The venue, known for its Monday night dance music concerts, was filled with guests enjoying the live show when disaster struck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Emergency officials confirmed that more than\u00a0150 individuals<\/u><\/a> have been injured, and many others remain missing as the search for survivors continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, Rubby and at least 121 other concertgoers were treated at area hospitals. The singer, known for hits like “Buscando Tus Besos,” was\u00a0found<\/a>\u00a0in the rubble.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He was\u00a0reportedly singing<\/a> when rescuers located him, indicating he was conscious and able to respond despite injuries. His daughter, Zulinka P\u00e9rez, survived the collapse and described her harrowing escape.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She revealed that her husband, who performs as one of her father’s backup singers, shielded her with his body and urged her to leave so their child wouldn’t be orphaned. He suffered a broken leg in the process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“My husband, who is another backup singer, threw himself on top of me, and told me: Mami, get out, so that the child is not left alone if this completely falls down, and I got out as I could, but Daddy is still there,” she\u00a0said<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Enrique Paulino, Rubby’s manager, recounted the terrifying moments after the roof gave way. Wearing a blood-stained shirt, Enrique told reporters the concert started shortly before midnight and the collapse happened almost an hour later. The group’s saxophonist was\u00a0among those killed.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he\u00a0said<\/u><\/a>, while also explaining that he initially believed the vibrations were caused by an earthquake.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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According to the latest updates, Rubby P\u00e9rez, 69, succumbed to his injuries and did not survive the tragedy. His manager, Enrique,\u00a0confirmed the news<\/a>\u00a0to People.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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First responders are working continuously to locate and assist anyone who may still be trapped under the debris. Authorities deployed around 400 search and rescue workers to comb through the disaster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Juan Manuel M\u00e9ndez, director of the Emergency Operations Centre (COE), revealed that more than 100 ambulance trips had been made to hospitals across Santo Domingo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Some of these trips carried multiple patients at once due to the overwhelming number of injuries. Juan expressed cautious optimism that more survivors could still be found. Just weeks ago, a\u00a0soccer star died<\/a>\u00a0while trying to save people during a nightclub fire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Meanwhile, the\u00a0Jet Set Club<\/u><\/a> issued a public statement describing the event as a tragedy that has deeply affected not just the venue but all Dominicans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The loss of human lives leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay,” they\u00a0wrote<\/u><\/a>, adding that they are cooperating fully with local authorities and have appointed Mar\u00eda Elena N\u00fa\u00f1ez as their official spokesperson during the crisis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“We share their pain as if it were our own, because we too are in mourning,” the club\u00a0continued<\/u><\/a> in its message of condolences and solidarity. Officials urge the public to avoid the area as recovery efforts continue and families await updates about their missing loved ones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This tragedy underscores the other catastrophes that have been happening all around the world.\u00a0As reported previously, a tragic plane crash occurred in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 29, when a turboprop aircraft struck a home, leaving no survivors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the plane as a SOCATA TBM-700. It went down around 12:20 p.m. local time, just six minutes before its scheduled arrival at Anoka County-Blaine Airport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A scene showcasing a fire breakout from the house where the plane crashed in Minnesota posted on March 29, 2025 | Source: YouTube \/ @DMRegister<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The plane<\/u><\/a>\u00a0had departed from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa earlier that morning, with flight data showing it took off at 11:12 a.m. local time. The aircraft was expected to land between 12:11 p.m. and 12:28 p.m. but was instead recorded crashing at around 12:20 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The plane, registered to DGW Enterprises LLC, was traveling at an altitude of 28,000 feet and filed a speed of 329 mph during its journey. Its route followed the ROGAN LAL AMORY Q110 JOKKY flight path.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The plane was nearing its destination when it went down in a residential neighborhood,\u00a0igniting a fire<\/u><\/a>\u00a0that engulfed a home. Brooklyn Park spokeswoman Risikat Adesaogun confirmed that no one aboard survived, though the exact number of passengers remains unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledged the tragedy on X,\u00a0stating<\/u><\/a>, \u201cMy team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park, and we are monitoring the situation closely.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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