Ex-MLB player Tony Blanco credited with saving friend before dying in Dominican Republic roof collapse

Tony Blanco, a erstwhile Major League Baseball subordinate who played for the Washington Nationals, was credited with redeeming a teammate earlier helium died successful a Dominican Republic extortion collapse.

Former MLB subordinate Esteban Germán told MLB newsman Héctor Gómez helium had conscionable returned to the bath and sat down astatine their array erstwhile Blanco noticed the ceiling started to travel down. Germán said Blanco pushed him retired of the mode arsenic the ceiling was getting acceptable to autumn connected him.

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Washington Nationals Tony Blanco, #28, during outpouring grooming successful Viero, Florida, connected March 2, 2005. (Sporting News via Getty Images)

Unfortunately, Blanco died moments later.

Blanco, World Series champion Octavio Dotel and Nelsy Cruz, the sister of ex-MLB All-Star outfielder Nelson Cruz, were among the astir 100 radical who died erstwhile the extortion collapsed astatine the Jet Set nine successful Santo Domingo aboriginal Tuesday morning.

MLB Commisioner Rob Manfred was among those who paid tribute to those who were lost.

"Major League Baseball is profoundly saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz and each the victims of past night's calamity successful Santo Domingo," helium said. "We nonstop our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of each those who person been affected and to our workfellow Nelson and his full family.

"The transportation betwixt shot and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are reasoning of each the Dominican players and fans crossed the crippled today."

A constabulary serviceman reacts during the hunt for survivors astatine the Jet Set nightclub aft its extortion collapsed during a performance successful Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, connected Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)

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People stitchery extracurricular the Jet Set nightclub aft its extortion collapsed during a merengue performance successful Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, connected Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)

Officials said the decease toll accrued to 98 arsenic rescuers continued their frantic hunt for immoderate survivors.

Juan Manuel Mendez, exigency operations director, said Tuesday evening exigency unit were inactive sifting done the rubble.

"We’re going to hunt tirelessly for people," Méndez said.

Jet Set is celebrated successful the Dominican Republic for its Monday parties wherever renowned artists perform. Merengue vocalist Rubby Perez was performing erstwhile the extortion collapsed and is among the missing.

"It happened truthful quickly. I managed to propulsion myself into a corner," helium said, adding that helium initially thought it was an earthquake," Perez’s manager Enrique Paulino said.

Blanco, 43, played for the Nationals successful 2005. He appeared successful 56 games and had 1 location run. He spent astir of his vocation either successful the insignificant leagues oregon successful Japan. His son, Tony Blanco Jr., is successful the Pittsburgh Pirates’ workplace system.

Members of the Seattle Mariners basal during a infinitesimal of soundlessness for Octavio Dotel, a erstwhile MLB subordinate who died successful a extortion illness astatine a nightclub successful the Dominican Republic, earlier a shot crippled betwixt the Mariners and the Houston Astros connected Tuesday, April 8, 2025 successful Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Dotel, 51, played 15 years successful the majors and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals successful 2011. He spent 5 of the 15 years with the Houston Astros. He picked up 109 saves successful his vocation on with a 3.78 ERA.

Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

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