Former major league pitcher Octavio Dotel died when the ceiling of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed. He was 51 years old.
Details are still emerging regarding the tragedy. The ceiling of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed early Tuesday morning. While the total number of casualties is still being determined, dozens were killed.
Insider Hector Gomez reported that Dotel was still alive when he was rescued from the rubble Tuesday morning. However, he succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital.
Dotel was initially signed as an international free agent by the Mets in 1993. He spent two years in the Dominican Summer League before making his debut stateside in 1995. Dotel worked his way through the Mets system as a starter and was considered the 45th-best prospect in baseball heading into the 1999 season by Baseball America.
While Dotel was not able to replicate that success as a starter in the majors, he quickly became a valuable weapon out of the bullpen. His mid-90s fastball, plus slider and curve, made Dotel a formidable option in the later innings.
Dotel played for 13 different teams in his career, tied with pitcher Rich Hill and Negro League star pitcher Roosevelt Davis for the second-most teams in MLB history. He posted a lifetime 3.78 ERA and a 1.238 WHIP over his 951 innings, notching 109 saves while striking out 1,143 batters. Dotel reached the postseason five times, winning the World Series with the Cardinals in 2011.
Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the victims.
