Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for 13 teams during his 15 years in the majors, was among several dozen killed when the roof of a famed nightclub collapsed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, early Tuesday. 

What You Need To Know

  • Former MLB relief pitcher Octavio Dotel was among several dozen people killed in a roof collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic early Tuesday
  • Dotel, a native of the Dominican Republic, was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1993, and made his major league debut in June 1999
  • Dotel played for a total of 13 teams, the second most ever by any single player, during his 15-year major league career
  • Dotel spent five seasons in Houston. The team wrote that he was one of the top relievers at the time as well as a “significant part of a dominant bullpen” that included Hall of Famer Billy Wagner and All-Star Brad Lidge

The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic posted on X that Dotel, 51, died. Initially, officials said that Dotel had been rescued from the debris and transported to a hospital, the Associated Press reported. 

Authorities said the roof collapsed at the one-story Jet Set nightclub, where politicians, athletes and others were attending a merengue concert. 

Dotel, a native of the Dominican Republic, was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1993, and made his major league debut in June 1999. 

He was traded to the Houston Astros following the 1999 season. 

The Astros paid tribute to Dotel in a post on X, saying the organization was “heartbroken to learn the tragic news.”

Dotel spent five seasons in Houston. The team wrote that he was one of the top relievers at the time as well as a “significant part of a dominant bullpen” that included Hall of Famer Billy Wagner and All-Star Brad Lidge.

After the Astros, Dotel completed stints at 11 other clubhouses – the Oakland A’s, the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Royals, the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago White Sox, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies, the Toronto Blue Jays, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2011. 

Dotel’s tally of playing for 13 total MLB teams was second only to Edwin Jackson, who took the mound for 14 teams in his 17-year career, according to MLB.com.  

"I've been all over the place, but it's not for bad," Dotel told ESPN in 2012. "It's for good, because every time I'm traded or I sign as a free agent, somebody wants me. It means I'm important – for some reason."

The Mets held a moment of silence today at Citi Field for Octavio Dotel ahead of their game against the Marlins, and the Kansas City Royals wrote on X that they were sending their condolences to Dotel’s family and loved ones. 

The Yankees also posted on X that they were mourning Dotel’s death. “Our hearts are with all those impacted by the tragedy in the Dominican Republic,” the team wrote.

In 2019, Dotel and ex-major leaguer Luis Castillo were among 18 people taken into custody during a large U.S. and Dominican law enforcement operation against drug trafficking and money laundering. Dotel and Castillo were released when a Dominican magistrate judge found insufficient evidence to connect them to the operation.

Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz, was also among the victims of the Tuesday roof collapse. Officials said Cruz died later at the hospital.