Tony Blanco, a former major league baseball player who played for Washington nationals, was attributed to save a teammate before he died in a collapse of the Dominican Republic roof.
The former MLB player, Esteban Germán, told the MLB reporter Héctor Gómez who had just returned to the bathroom and sat at his table when Blanco noticed that the roof began to fall. Germán said Blanco pushed him out of the road while the roof was preparing to fall on him.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
Washington Tony Blanco nationals, #28, during spring training in Viero, Florida, on March 2, 2005. (Sports news through Getty Images)
Unfortunately, Blanco died moments later.
Blanco, the World Series champion Octavio Dotel and Nelsy Cruz, the sister of former gardener All-Star of MLB Nelson Cruz, were among the almost 100 people who died when the roof collapsed at the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo the early hours of Tuesday.
The MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, was among those who paid tribute to the lost.
“The big baseball leagues are deeply sad because of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz and all the victims of the tragedy last night in Santo Domingo,” he said. “We send our most sincere condolences to the families and friends of all who have already been affected our colleague Nelson and their whole family.
“The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic is deep, and we are thinking of all Dominican players and fans throughout the game today.”
A police officer reacts during the search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after his roof collapsed during a concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Photo AP/Ricardo Hernández)
Victor Robles de los Marineros fractures the shoulder after hitting the wall during the capture of outstanding races
People meet outside the Jet Set nightclub after their roof collapsed during a meringue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Photo AP/Ricardo Hernández)
The authorities said that the death toll increased to 98 as rescuers continued their frantic search for any survivor.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of emergency operations, said that emergency personnel on Tuesday night were still examining the debris.
“We are going to look tirelessly on people,” Méndez said.
Jet Set is famous in the Dominican Republic for his matches on Monday where renowned artists are presented. Merengue singer Rubby Pérez was acting when the roof collapsed and is among the missing.
“It happened very fast. I managed to throw myself into a corner,” he said, adding that he initially thought it was an earthquake, “said Pérez’s manager Enrique Paulino.
Blanco, 43, played for nationals in 2005. He appeared in 56 games and had a home run. He spent most of his career in the minor leagues or in Japan. His son, Tony Blanco Jr., is in the agricultural system of Pittsburgh Pirates.
The members of the Seattle sailors are found during a moment of silence for Octavio Dotel, a former MLB player who died in a ceiling collapse in a nightclub in the Dominican Republic, before a baseball game between the sailors and the Houston stars on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dotel, 51, played 15 years in the Major and won a world series with the San Luis cardinals in 2011. He spent five of the 15 years with the Houston stars. He picked up 109 salvages in his career along with an effectiveness of 3.78.
