Octavio Dotel, a longtime MLB relief pitcher who played for both the Mets and Yankees, has died after the roof at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed on him in a tragedy that killed at least 44 people and injured 160 others on Tuesday.
He was 51.
Initial reports stated Dotel was pulled alive from the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, but he died while being transported to a hospital, according to MLB reporter Hector Gomez.
The head of the emergency operations center, Gen. Juan Manuel Mendez, confirmed the details of Dotel’s death to Noticias SIN.
The cause of the roof collapse is unclear.
The nightclub was hosting an event at which popular merengue singer, Rubby Pérez, was performing when the tragic incident occurred.
A former Mets prospect who made his MLB debut with the club in 1999, Dotel pitched for 13 different teams across 15 seasons and was part of the 2011 Cardinals team that won the World Series.
Traded by the Mets to the Astros after the ’99 season in the Mike Hampton deal, Dotel spent the next four-plus seasons in Houston before he was traded to the Athletics during the 2004 season.
The right-hander signed with the Yankees in 2006, pitching to a 10.80 ERA in 14 appearances.
He later pitched for the Royals, Braves, White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays and Tigers.
Dotel had a career 3.78 ERA with 109 saves and 1,143 strikeouts in 951 innings.