A somber update emerged from the capital of the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo had its doors wide open for a star-studded evening headlined by merengue legend Rubby Pérez. Politicians, athletes, and others were attending the merengue concert, but in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Just when Pérez was performing for the crowd, the roof of the building collapsed, turning a packed venue into a scene of concrete, chaos, and confusion.

At least 18 lives were feared lost, and many more were injured as the emergency services rushed to the scene in a frantic attempt to rescue the survivors. Shortly, it emerged that a former Houston Astros player and World Series champion was among those trapped under the rubble. This sparked a wave of concern beyond just the island.

Reports mentioned that Octavio Dotel, a major league pitcher for 15 seasons, was among those reported to be missing after the ceiling collapse, and the update was concerning. MLB insider Mike Rodríguez tweeted, “According to sources, former professional baseball player Octavio Dotel was inside the Jet Set nightclub, enjoying the celebration of singer Ruby Pérez. Unfortunately, a tragic incident occurred when the roof of the venue collapsed. Multiple fatalities and injuries were reported at the scene. As of now, the whereabouts of the former player remain uncertain.” A mobile phone footage of the incident shared on social media media, has only added to the fear.

In the video, a man standing beside the stage can be heard saying, “Something fell from the ceiling,” while pointing towards the roof. Singer Rubby Pérez also appears to glance in the same direction, following the man’s gesture. Less than 30 seconds later, a loud noise is heard, and the screen abruptly goes black. A woman’s voice then cries out, “Dad, what’s happened to you?” While Dotel’s situation remains precarious, there was another saddening update from the site of the tragedy for those who follow MLB.

Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the Monte Cristi province, was reported to be among the people who had lost their lives in the incident. Cruz was the sister of MLB all-star Nelson Cruz, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and Texas Rangers among other teams. Meanwhile, Rubby Pérez’s daughter confirmed to local media that her father survived the collapse. She said rescue workers found him singing under the rubble. “He started to sing so they could hear him,” she said.

His manager, Enrique Paulino, with his blood-stained shirt, told reporters that the group’s saxophonist was among those killed in the crush. “It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he said, adding that he thought it was an earthquake at first.

At least 150 people were reported to be injured, and the rescue workers are continuing their search as they hope to help more survivors out.

Search operations continue as toll expected to rise

“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under that rubble,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Santo Domingo Center of Emergency Operations. Nearly 12 hours after the nightclub’s horrific tragedy, rescue crews were still pulling survivors from the rubble. Reports have emerged that the death toll could rise as more clarity on the situation emerges. MLB fans will be praying to hear some good news about Dotel soon, who was born and raised in Santo Domingo.

Making his MLB debut in 1999, he went on to carve out a 15-year career identified by resilience.  The star posted a 3.74 ERA over 888 1/3 innings, with most of his time spent pitching for the Houston Astros in the early 2000s. 

Dotel actively guided multiple approaches to support his community in the Dominican Republic. He has dedicated himself to developing young athletes through a gymnastics program. One example is his establishment, OD Gym for Kids, which is located in Santo Domingo. Dotel regularly participates in speaking engagements where he shares experiences from his MLB career.

​UPDATE: Octavio Dotel has been rescued from the rubble. Bruised but breathing, the former MLB star was among at least eight people rescued from the destruction.