Nelson Cruz, one of the Dominican Republic’s most celebrated baseball stars, is facing unimaginable grief after the death of his sister, Nelsy Cruz, in a tragic nightclub collapse early Tuesday morning.
Nelsy, who served as the governor of Montecristi province, was inside the popular Jet Set nightclub when the roof suddenly gave way during a late-night live music performance. According to the Associated Press, at least 44 people were killed and over 150 were injured in the disaster.
She wasn’t just a public figure – she was Nelson’s sister. And on Tuesday, the former MLB slugger took to Instagram to share the family’s heartbreak. “With deep sorrow, the Cruz Martinez family reports the sensitive death of our beloved sister,” he wrote, adding that her love for her community “will live forever in our hearts.”
A night of music turns to chaos
Reports from The Guardian and BBC say the roof collapsed shortly after 1 a.m. Witnesses described hearing a loud crack before chaos erupted. In a tragic detail, Nelsy reportedly called President Luis Abinader just minutes before the collapse to say she was trapped. First Lady Raquel Arbaje confirmed the call, calling the loss “too great a tragedy.”
Rescue crews were still digging through the debris 12 hours later. Images from the AP showed emergency responders in orange safety gear working tirelessly, while family members waited anxiously outside the club.
Among the dead was 51-year-old former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel. He had been pulled alive from the rubble, but died on the way to the hospital, per the AP. Dotel pitched for 13 teams during his MLB career and was beloved by fans and teammates alike.
Esteban Germán, another former MLB player, had been at the club earlier in the evening but left shortly before the collapse. He posted video of the band playing just before the roof fell in and later confirmed he was safe – and helping out at the scene.
Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía de Garrigó later posted on X that rescue efforts remained active. “We will continue to make every effort and remain united in prayer,” she wrote.
The Dominican Republic is in mourning – and so is the global baseball community. For Nelson Cruz, this loss is personal, painful, and deeply public.
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