Octavio Dotel, a former MLB World Series winner, tragically passed away at the age of 51 on Tuesday. Dotel was one of the victims of a nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic, which claimed the lives of at least 58 people. The incident occurred at the Jet Set nightclub during a concert, resulting in over 160 injuries. The cause of the roof collapse remains unclear.
Reports indicated that Dotel was among those trapped in the rubble following the collapse, with rescue crews working diligently to find survivors. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of former MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, also lost her life in the tragic event.
During his 15-season career in the majors, Dotel established himself as a standout reliever, notably with the Houston Astros where he served as the primary closer in 2004. He went on to play for various teams including the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Detroit Tigers.
In 2011, Dotel joined the Cardinals midseason and contributed to their World Series victory with an impressive postseason performance. He retired in 2014, holding the record for playing with 13 different MLB clubs, a record later broken by his former teammate Edwin Jackson.