Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez has expressed distress as some members of his family remain missing following a tragic event. The collapse of a nightclub roof in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has left the country in mourning. Born in Manoguayabo, just west of the capital, the 53-year-old Martinez revealed on Wednesday that his family is among those still unaccounted for.
The disaster, which took more than 124 lives and injured hundreds early on Tuesday, has deeply shaken the nation. “We are all affected,” Martinez shared. “I still have family members who are still in the rubbles, and we don’t know what happened to them. But we just want to be strong, like we have always been. We’re a country that prays a lot and remains united all the time, so I just hope everybody has the same courage.”
The tragedy also claimed the lives of notable figures such as former major league pitcher Octavio Dotel and utility player Tony Blanco. Nelsy Cruz, governor of the Monte Cristi province and sister to MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, was among the deceased.
On Wednesday, mourners dressed in black and white gathered to honor Dotel at a local funeral home. Danilo Díaz, a former sports minister, voiced the communal grief to a television station, highlighting the widespread sorrow the disaster has brought. “He was always positive, a collaborator, a friend,” Díaz said.
Fellow Hall of Fame inductee David Ortiz, known for his time with the Boston Red Sox, acknowledged the impact of Dotel’s loss. “He was a person whom everyone loved. It’s very hard, very hard, truly,” Ortiz reflected, recalling their daily conversations. “He was very funny. Octavio was a guy who was a fighter.”
The Jet Set nightclub was bustling with music enthusiasts, athletes, and officials when the calamity occurred. Initially, dust fell from the ceiling into patrons’ drinks as a prelude to the more disastrous full collapse. Many were caught by surprise, especially those dancing to a lively merengue concert. The resulting chaos led to immediate fatalities and left many trapped beneath large concrete pieces.
Pedro Martinez, conveying a message of solidarity and empathy, stated, “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. We’re all sad.”