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Major League Baseball has paid tribute to former players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco after they died in Tuesday’s roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic’s capital Santo Domingo.
At least 98 people were confirmed to have been killed and more than 150 injured, with Dotel, 51, who played for 13 MLB teams from 1999-2013, and former Washington Nationals player Blanco, 43, among those who died.
Also among the victims was Nelsy Cruz, the sister of former baseball player Nelson Cruz, a seven-time MLB All-Star.
“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,” a statement said.
“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.”
Dotel, who won the 2011 World Series with the St Louis Cardinals, started his MLB career with the New York Mets in 1999 and went on to feature for the Houston Astros, the Oakland Athletics, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers.
The Astros and the Yankees paid tribute to Dotel, while the Mets observed a moment of silence before Tuesday’s home game against Miami Marlins.
“Dotel spent five seasons [2000-04] of his outstanding, 15-year Major League career with the Houston Astros,” a statement said.
“While in Houston, he was one of the top relievers in all of baseball and was a significant part of a dominant bullpen that included Hall of Famer Billy Wagner and All-Star Brad Lidge.”
The Yankees added they “mourn the passing” of former pitcher Dotel and sent their “deepest condolences to Octavio’s family, friends and loved ones”.
Blanco played 56 games for the Washington Nationals in 2005, which was his only season in the MLB.
