Octavio Dotel dies from injuries in Dominican Republic nightclub tragedy
Octavio Dotel, a major league pitcher for 15 seasons, died Tuesday from injuries sustained when the roof of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed, a spokesman for the country’s sports ministry confirmed.
At least 44 people are dead and more than 130 were injured after the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo crumbled during a performance by merengue singer Rubby Perez. Authorities were still searching the rubble on Tuesday.
Dotel, 51, was a native of Santo Domingo who played for 13 teams over his 15 seasons in the majors from 1999 to 2013. Originally signed by the New York Mets, Dotel was traded to the Houston Astros after making his MLB debut in 1999 and he spent five years in Houston – where he developed into one of the National League’s top setup men.
In 2003, he made history when he, Hall of Famer Billy Wagner and four other Astros pitchers combined to no-hit the New York Yankees.
Octavio Dotel pitching in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
After Wagner was traded that offseason, Dotel took over the closer’s role for the Astros. However, in June he was part of a blockbuster three-team trade with Oakland and Kansas City headlined by outfielder Carlos Beltran. He continued to close as a member of the A’s and finished the season with a career-high 36 saves.
He continued to pitch effectively into his late 30s, finally winning a World Series ring as a member of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. He posted a 2.61 ERA with a pair of wins over 12 postseason appearances that season.
And he returned to the World Series the following season with the Detroit Tigers, pitching five scoreless innings over six postseason appearances as the Tigers eventually fell to the San Francisco Giants in the Fall Classic.
The Mets held a moment of silence for Dotel before Tuesday’s game at Citi Field in New York.
