Mets hold moment of silence for Octavio Dotel after former pitcher dies in Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse
Mets pitcher Octavio Dotel. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams
The Mets held a moment of silence before their game at Citi Field on Tuesday afternoon for former pitcher Octavio Dotel, who was among those who died after a nightclub roof collapse early Tuesday morning in the Dominican Republic.
Dotel, who was 51, was rescued from the rubble of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, but later died from his injuries while en route to a local hospital, Reuters reported, citing a spokesman for the nation’s sports ministry.
Dotel, a Santo Domingo native, came up in the Mets organization and also pitched briefly for the Yankees. Overall, he pitched for 13 teams in a 15-year career from 1999-2013 after signing with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1993.
The Mets, on their official X account, posted: “We mourn the passing of Octavio Dotel. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy in the Dominican Republic.”
Dotel made his major-league debut with the Mets in 1999, appearing in 19 regular-season games and going 8-3 with a 5.38 ERA. He made two appearances in the 1999 postseason and was the winning pitcher in the Mets’ 15-inning victory in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against Atlanta.
The Mets traded Dotel to the Houston Astros during the 1999 offseason. He spent five seasons with the Astros and established himself as a top setup reliever. In 2003, Dotel was one of five Houston pitchers who combined for a no-hitter against the Yankees.
Dotel appeared in 14 games for the Yankees in 2006, going 0-0 with a 10.80 ERA.
Octavio Dotel pitches in eighth inning against the Orioles in 2006. He played for 13 teams. Credit: Newsday/Paul J. Bereswill
The Yankees, on their official X account, posted: "The Yankees mourn the passing of former Yankees pitcher Octavio Dotel and extend our deepest condolences to Octavio’s family, friends and loved ones. Our hearts are with all those impacted by the tragedy in the Dominican Republic."
In 2011, he won a World Series title as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Overall, Dotel recorded 109 saves. He set a major-league record in 2012 when he played for his 13th and final team, the Detroit Tigers. That record was later broken by pitcher Edwin Jackson.
Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi who was a sister of former MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, was also killed in the collapse.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza opened his pregame news conference on Tuesday by saying: “Thinking about our people in the Dominican Republic . . . That incident that happened with the roof collapse. Affected a lot of people there. We have a lot of Dominican communities in the baseball world. So our prayers to their families.”
Major League Baseball announced that former major league first baseman Tony Blanco also died in the collapse. Blanco, who was 43, appeared in 56 games for the Washington Nationals in 2005.
“Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all the victims of last night’s tragedy in Santo Domingo," commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected and to our colleague Nelson and his entire family. The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
