Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez reveals he has family missing in the wreckage
By ALEX RASKIN
Baseball legend Pedro Martinez's family members are among those still buried under the collapsed roof of an iconic Dominican nightclub, the Cy Young winner has revealed.
Martinez, a national hero in the Dominican Republic, took to Instagram to discuss the horrific situation in Santo Domingo, where at least 124 people were killed when the roof of the Jet Set night club collapsed early Tuesday morning, trapping dozens inside.
'I still have family members that are still in the [rubble] and we don't know what happened to them but we just want to be strong, like we have always been,' Martinez said on Instagram.
'We're all sad, we're all affected by the tragedy,' he continued. 'We're a country that prays a lot and remains united all the time.'
Former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco were both killed in the collapse, as was retired All-Star Nelson Cruz's sister, Nelsy.
Blanco was killed when he tried to save his friend, former MLB player Esteban German, from being hit by falling debris, it has been revealed.
Baseball legend Pedro Martinez's family members are among those still buried under the collapsed roof of an iconic Dominican nightclub, the Cy Young winner has revealed
Rescue workers use sheets as they recover bodies from the rubble at the Jet Set nightclub
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MLB star Nelson Cruz's sister dies in Dominican nightclub ceiling collapse
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German was returning to his table from the bathroom when Blanco pushed him out the way of a part of the falling ceiling, according to the distinguished Dominican Republic baseball reporter Hector Gomez.
Blanco, 43, was killed in the tragic accident but German, 47, miraculously survived.
Blanco played for the Washington Nationals in 2005 before spending eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.
Dotel, who won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, had been heard screaming for help by first responders, according to Dominican television station Supercanal.
Dotel pitched for 13 teams across a career that spanned 15 seasons in the majors. He was 59-50 with a 3.79 ERA and 109 saves in 758 games, including 34 starts.
Revelers had gathered to watch a performance by Rubby Perez when a section of the ceiling plummeted around 12:44 am Tuesday.
This aerial view shows rescuers working at the Jet Set nightclub a day after its roof collapsed
Footage, shared on social media, showed Perez on stage when parts of the ceiling came crashing down on the crowd and performers.
First responders are continuing their efforts to find survivors, including using thermal cameras that can detect victims' body heat signatures.
MLB released a statement on Tuesday evening saying: 'MLB is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all the victims of last night's tragedy in Santo Domingo.
'We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected and to our colleague Nelson and his entire family.
'The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today.'
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