Octavio Dotel, former Major League Baseball pitcher and player in the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM), passed away on Tuesday, April 8, after being trapped under the collapsed roof of Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican authorities reported.
How did Octavio Dotel die?
According to initial reports, early on Tuesday, the former baseball player was at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where singer Rubby Pérez was performing a concert. Suddenly, the roof of the building collapsed, trapping hundreds of people.
Dotel was buried under the debris, and after more than 11 hours, he was rescued and taken in critical condition to the Central Hospital of the Armed Forces, where he arrived without vital signs due to the injuries sustained. At least 44 people have died from the accident.
Who was Octavio Dotel?
Octavio Eduardo Dotel was born on November 25, 1973, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His Major League Baseball career began in 1999 with the Mets, and in 2011, he became a World Series champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. Over his 15 years in the Major Leagues, he accumulated 109 saves, with a record of 59 wins and 50 losses.
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Dotel announced his retirement from professional baseball on October 3, 2014. Afterward, he returned to his native Dominican Republic, where he participated in various business ventures, although he didn’t completely step away from baseball and made occasional appearances at some events.
In 2019, the former baseball player was arrested in the Dominican Republic after being linked to a drug trafficking and money laundering network, but he was ultimately acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.
What was Octavio Dotel’s net worth?
As of this year, Octavio Dotel’s net worth was estimated at $16 million. Throughout his 15-year career, he earned approximately $41 million in salary with 13 Major League teams.
Rubby Pérez found alive after nightclub accident
Following the collapse of the roof at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where former baseball player Octavio Dotel died, Dominican authorities confirmed that merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing at the venue, was rescued alive.
The artist was found after he started singing while trapped under the debris. According to his daughter, Zulinka Pérez, the singer is doing well, although she did not provide further details about his health condition.
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Who is Rubby Pérez?
Ruberto Antonio Pérez Herrera, known as Rubby Pérez, was born on March 8, 1956, in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but his life took a drastic turn on June 13, 1972, when he suffered a car accident at the age of 15, resulting in a fracture in his right leg.
After completing his studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, Rubby began his artistic career by joining groups such as Los Pitágoras del Ritmo and the Youth Guidance Society Choir. However, his career took off in 1980 when he joined Fernando Villalona’s orchestra. Later, in 1982, he joined the renowned Wilfrido Vargas orchestra, where he recorded 22 songs and gained international recognition with hits like “El Africano” (1983) and “Volveré” (1984).
In 1986, he released his first solo album, “Buscando tus besos,” which included successful singles such as “Dame veneno,” “Contigo,” and “Ave de paso.” From that moment, he established himself as a solo artist, accumulating several gold and platinum records, Casandra Awards, and performing international tours, including unforgettable shows at Madison Square Garden in New York. In 2024, Rubby received the Soberano Award for Merit from the Association of Art Critics (Acroarte) in recognition of his remarkable career.
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