Octavio Dotel remembered as one of ‘friendliest’ in MLB

Regardless of the score, Octavio Dotel could often be found with a smile on his face as he prepared to pitch some of the most stressful late innings during his 15-year career in the majors. The right-hander from the Dominican Republic was seemingly always loose and friendly, his former teammates recalled Tuesday after word of Dotel’s death spread.

Dotel was among the victims of a roof collapse during star Rubby Perez’s merengue concert at the Jet Set nightclub in his native Santo Domingo late Monday night. At least 58 are reported dead and 160 injured. Rubby Perez, the brother of former big leaguer Neifi Perez, also died in the roof collapse.

Dotel was pinned under the rubble for about 10 hours before he was pulled alive on Tuesday morning. But he died on the way to the hospital, according to the respected Dominican baseball journalist Hector Gomez and many others.

‘Heartbreaking’

Former big leaguer Tony Blanco also died in the collapse. Former All-Star Nelson Cruz’s sister Nelsy, the governor of the Monte Cristi province, also died.

“This is so heartbreaking,” said Hall of Famer Billy Wagner, a teammate of Dotel’s for three years with the Astros. “Damn! He was just a very, very nice person. Dotel just made everybody feel good. 

“He had that slingshot like (delivery). What a gamer. Dotel was just a great, great person.”

Dotel began his career with the Mets in 1999 under manager Bobby Valentine, who also managed him in the Mets’ farm system.

“He was like my boy,” Valentine said of Dotel. “I loved him. I had no idea that he passed. He was a sweet, sweet kid, a nice person growing up, really respectful.”

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Dotel was a starter before transitioning to the bullpen under Valentine. He was the centerpiece of the package the Astros received when they sent ace Mike Hampton and Derek Bell to New York in December 1999. He played parts of five seasons with the Astros.

‘Genuinely friendly’

In Houston, he became one of the best setup men in baseball behind Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner. At one point, Brad Lidge, Dotel and Wagner gave the Astros one of the most overpowering bullpens in 2002 and 2003. Dotel took over as the Astros’ closer in 2004 before he was traded.

On June 24, 2004, he was sent to the Oakland A’s in a three-team trade that landed Carlos Beltran to Houston from the Kansas City Royals. Despite having one of the most stressful roles in baseball, Octavio Dotel was almost always loose throughout his big league career.

“He was probably, right out of the chute, one of the most genuinely friendly players I ever had the privilege of playing with,” Lidge said. “He was also very unique.”

Wagner and Lidge laughed nostalgically Tuesday as they remembered Dotel’s personality. At times he bordered on being innocently goofy in the clubhouse and in the bullpen.

We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that former Astros pitcher Octavio Dotel was one of several individuals that passed away when a roof collapsed in his native Dominican Republic last night.

Dotel, 51, spent five seasons (2000-04) of his outstanding, 15-year Major… pic.twitter.com/wQui3h7rko

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2025

Key part of historic six-pitcher no-hitter

His rugged demeanor on the mound was the complete opposite when he wasn’t competing. As the Mets lost the 1999 National League Championship Series, Dotel could be seen with tears in his eyes. Even as a rookie, he wanted the ball with the game on the line in the decisive Game 6 loss.

Dotel, who was 51, helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the 2011 World Series. He was 59-50 with 109 saves and a 3.78 ERA in his career. Dotel played a key role in one of the greatest moments in Astros history.

“I liked Dotel,” Roy Oswalt said. “He was always great in the clubhouse. He kept everybody loose.”

He helped the Astros make history against the Yankees at old Yankee Stadium on June 11, 2003. On that glorious night in the Bronx after Oswalt was injured, Dotel was the fifth pitcher when the Astros threw the first six-pitcher no-hitter in Major League Baseball history.

Because one batter reached on a strikeout/wild pitch, Dotel struck out four Yankees in the eighth during the no-hitter.

“He had a unique approach to how he saw the game,” Lidge said. “He was living life by a little different set of rules. Dotel really valued how much fun baseball should be, like playing it like you’re still a kid.”

Lidge recalled how Dotel could be seen engaging fans in the seventh inning before warming up to pitch the eighth. Most other relievers would not be having fun with fans at that point in a game. Dotel was different, though. His friendly, joyful personality helped keep the mood loose in the otherwise tense bullpen.

‘Some kind of funny’

“That guy just had so much fun when he was playing,” Lidge said. “Everybody was impressed about it and maybe a little bit jealous of it. We all laughed because he was a kid just living the dream. That dream doesn’t have to be stressful if you look at it the right way.”

Astros great Lance Berkman played with Dotel in Houston and with the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.

“Well, I remember he was a great teammate, first and foremost,” Berkman said. “He was just a joy to play with. He was a guy you hear about that never had a bad day. And it didn’t matter if he was pitching well or poorly.

“I have so many good memories of laughing with him at the things he said. Just great memories. He was some kind of funny. He had an accent. And he knew how to use it to great effect. He could say stuff in a way that could just make you laugh.”