Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez is among the former Major League Baseball players affected by the deadly nightclub roof collapse that happened in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, April 8.
Martinez, 53, who is from the Dominican Republic, revealed in a video posted via Instagram on Tuesday that he is missing family members who were at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo when it collapsed.
“I still have family members that are still in the rubbles, and we don’t know what happened to them,” he said.
As first responders continue to sift through the debris of the nightclub, the death toll has risen to at least 218, as of Thursday morning. Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and former first baseman Tony Blanco, as well as Nelsy Cruz, the sister of seven-time All-Star Nelson Cruz, are all among the victims.
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After initial reports that Dotel, who was 51, was pulled out of the rubble alive, authorities confirmed the reliever was declared dead when he arrived at a local hospital, according to ESPN.
“It is with a heavy heart that it is my turn to actually send condolences to all our family members and the people here in the United States who have family over there,” Martinez said in the video. “We’re all sad. We’re all affected by the tragedy. … Our hearts are with you. We all are affected.”
He continued, “I want to send my condolences for those families that lost a loved one in that tragedy. … That my heart, my soul is with my entire country right now.”
Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, issued a statement via X on Tuesday in response to the tragedy.
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“We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub,” he wrote. “We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred. All relief agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families.”
Teams around MLB have also responded to the disaster. The New York Mets held a moment of silence for Dotel, who began his career in New York in 1999, before their game on Tuesday.
“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 Rob Manfred said in a statement Tuesday. “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.”
