Baseball fans woke up to heartbreaking news this week: former Major League pitcher and World Series champ Octavio Dotel has tragically passed away (April 8) at age 51 after being pulled from the rubble of a collapsed nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

According to  ESPN, Dotel was rescued from the Jet Set nightclub after the roof came down during a late-night merengue concert. He was among at least eight people found alive, but sadly, Dotel succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital.

The collapse occurred around 1 a.m., during a packed performance by legendary merengue singer Rubby Pérez. The Jet Set nightclub is a well-known venue that often attracts athletes, celebrities, and local politicians. According to reports, over 160 people were injured, and the death toll continues to rise – with at least 44 confirmed dead as of now.

“It happened so quickly. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” Pérez told Noticias SIN. His saxophonist was among the deceased. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, but rescue crews are continuing to search for survivors.

We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that former Astros pitcher Octavio Dotel was one of several individuals that passed away when a roof collapsed in his native Dominican Republic last night.

Dotel, 51, spent five seasons (2000-04) of his outstanding, 15-year Major… pic.twitter.com/wQui3h7rko

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2025

Dotel began his MLB career in 1999 with the New York Mets and quickly gained a reputation as a high-strikeout reliever. In 2003, he became part of history when he joined Billy Wagner and four other Astros pitchers in a combined no-hitter against the Yankees – a feat so wild it still gets talked about at ballparks today.

After Wagner was traded, Dotel took over as Houston’s closer and was then part of the 2004 three-team trade that sent Carlos Beltrán to the Astros. Dotel landed in Oakland and notched a career-high 36 saves that season.

He played for an incredible 13 MLB teams over his 15-year career, including playoff runs with the Cardinals in 2011 – where he won a World Series ring – and the Tigers in 2012, where he pitched five scoreless innings during their postseason run.

His final career numbers? A solid 3.78 ERA, 109 saves, and a reputation as one of the more dependable right-handed relievers of the 2000s.

The outpouring of love and grief on social media has been overwhelming – and deeply moving. Baseball fans from all walks of life are remembering Dotel not just as a talented pitcher, but as someone who made lasting memories for an entire generation.

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“Octavio was a real one. Fly high, king. 🙏” wrote @FranDeMario2.
Another fan, @MickeyDunne18, shared a heartfelt memory: “Sad to hear of the passing of Octavio Dotel. 1999 is probably my favorite year for the Mets besides 1986. I went to a lot of games with my mom and brother, we rooted for the rookie Dotel and I was excited when he got on Kiner’s Korner!”

Dotel holds the MLB record for playing on the most teams – 13 total. His versatility made him a valued bullpen piece, and he often played the role of veteran mentor to younger pitchers. And believe it or not, he struck out 10.8 batters per 9 innings across his career – one of the best K-rates for relievers of his era. Our thoughts are with Dotel’s family, friends, teammates, and the Dominican baseball community.