Former MLB Player Tony Blanco Saved Friend Before Dying in Dominican Nightclub Roof Collapse

Former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco were among the 184 people who died in a ritzy Santo Domingo nightclub on April 8 when the roof collapsed.

Tony Blanco poses for a portrait during Washington Nationals Photo Day at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2006. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Former Major League Baseball (MLB) players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco were among the 184 people who died in a ritzy Santo Domingo nightclub on April 8 when the roof collapsed, according to Dominican Republic authorities.

Officials said dozens more people were injured when the ceiling over the discotheque unexpectedly caved in on its patrons, who were attending a merengue concert where merengue singer Rubby Pérez was performing.

“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,” MLB Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manford Jr. posted on X on April 8.

The one-story lounge, known as Jet Set, was popular among politicians and athletes, such as Blanco, 43, who played for the Washington Nationals in 2005 and had one home run amid 56 games.

MLB reporter Héctor Gómez posted on X that just as the ceiling was going to fall on former MLB player Esteban Germán, 47, Blanco saved his life before he died.

“Former MLB player Esteban Germán told me that at the time of the collapse in Jet Set, he was returning from the bathroom and, before sitting down at the table, Tony Blanco pushed him when he realized part of the ceiling was about to fall on him,” Gomez posted on April 8. “Unfortunately, Blanco didn’t suffer the same fate as Germán and died seconds later.”

Dotel, who was a pitcher for some 13 MLB teams spanning over 15 years, won a World Series title while playing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.

Rescue workers search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 8, 2025. Eddy Vittini/AP Photo

Although officials rescued Dotel from the debris and transported him to a local hospital, Dotel had died as well, the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Other injured parties, according to officials, include Dominican Republic legislator Bray Vargas and Pérez, who was performing when the roof fell.

“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,” MLB Commissioner Manford said.

Octavio Dotel of the Detroit Tigers reacts after striking out Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants during Game Four of the Major League Baseball World Series in Detroit on Oct. 28, 2012. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Nelsy Cruz was governor of Monte Cristi province on the northwest side of the Caribbean island and the sister of MLB player Nelson Cruz, a seven-time MLB All-Star.

First Lady Raquel Abraje told reporters that Nelsy Cruz had called President Luis Abinader at 12:49 a.m., reporting that she was trapped and explaining that the roof had collapsed.

Officials said that Nelsy Cruz later died in the hospital.

“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,” Manford added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News