Two ex-MLB players among at least 66 killed in nightmare Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse

Two former MLB players, including World Series champ Octavio Dotel, were among at least 66 people killed when a Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapsed Tuesday, according to local media reports.

Dotel, who started as a Mets prospect and won a ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, and Tony Blanco, who played briefly for the Washington Nationals, died after the roof caved in at the renowned Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo as popular merengue singer Rubby Pére performed, Dominican outlet Noticias SIN reported.

Dotel, 51, had accompanied Blanco, 45, to the venue, head of emergency operations Gen. Juan Manuel Mendez confirmed to Noticias SIN.

15

15

15

15

At least 150 people were injured inside the packed nightspot.

Local officials initially indicated that Pérez was pulled alive from the rubble, but his family later confirmed that the singer was also among the dead.

His manager, Enrique Paulino, whose shirt was spattered with blood, told reporters at the scene that the group’s saxophonist was also among those crushed to death.

15

15

15

Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi, was also among the dead, authorities said.

Cruz is the sister of former major league slugger Nelson Cruz.

15

15

15

The Post confirmed that former pitcher Dotel was at the club at the time of the collapse. 

Dotel pitched for eight clubs over his career after starting out with the Mets in 1999, and was with the Yankees in 2006. 

The 51-year-old righty pitched in the majors for 15 years and was a member of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals team that won the World Series over the Texas Rangers. 

15

15

Blanco played for minor league ball clubs as part of the farm system for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, as a first baseman, third baseman and outfielder. His only time in the majors came with the Nationals in 2005, when he played 56 games.

Follow the latest on the tragic roof collapse at a Dominican Republic nightclub:

• Terrifying moment Dominican Republic nightclub’s roof collapses, killing 113 and trapping dozens
• Dominican Republic nightclub collapse that killed 231 likely caused by ‘excess weight’: experts
• Singer Rubby Pérez, who performed at Dominican Republic nightclub during roof collapse, declared dead
• MLB world mourns Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco after deaths in nightclub tragedy: ‘Heartbroken’

The Dominican slugger also had a successful stint in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan.

As night began to fall Tuesday, rescue crews were still sifting through the debris to find additional survivors, police said.

15

“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 city’s Center of Emergency Operations.

At one of the many hospitals where the injured were taken, an official stood outside reading out the names of survivors as a crowd gathered and desperately screamed out the names of their loved ones.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse.

15

According to Noticias SIN, 31 of the injured were taken to Dr. Dario Contreras Hospital, with 12 in critical condition.

President Luis Abinader, who visited the site of the disaster Tuesday, said all rescue agencies were “working tirelessly” to help those affected.

“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he wrote on X.

15

Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía de Garrigó added: “Our city wakes up to a terrible tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. My deepest sympathy goes out to the families still waiting for news of their loved ones.”

In a statement Tuesday, the US Embassy in Santo Domingo expressed condolences over the calamity.

“We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, the injured and all the Dominican people at this difficult time,” Charge d’Affaires Patricia Aguilera wrote on Facebook.

“We appreciate the tireless efforts of the rescue teams,” she said.

Abinader declared April 8, 9 and 10 national days of mourning to commemorate those who died.

In a statement, Jet Set’s management wrote that they were in “a state of profound grief and dismay” over the deaths.

“We are cooperating fully and transparently with the relevant authorities to assist the victims and clarify what happened,” they wrote.

With Post wires