Ex-MLB Teammate Dies Saving Fellow Player in Nightclub Roof Collapse

Former Major League Baseball second baseman Esteban Germán was found alive following the deadly roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, which has now claimed approximately 221 lives, as reported by Blue Jays Central.

The collapse occurred earlier this week during a packed event at the well-known Santo Domingo venue. Dominican politician Tony Peña Guaba described the tragedy as the “worst non-atmospheric disaster” in the country’s history.

Death toll from the roof collapse at a popular nightclub in #SantoDomingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, has risen to 221.

Authorities said, search and recovery efforts have ended. pic.twitter.com/1q485APwut

— IndSamachar News (@Indsamachar) April 11, 2025

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Germán, 46, credited his survival to a last-second act of heroism by his former teammate Tony Blanco. According to MLB insider Héctor Gómez, Germán had just returned from the bathroom and was sitting down when Blanco suddenly pushed him out of the way.

Former MLB player Esteban Germán told me that at the time of the collapse in Jet Set, he was returning from the bathroom and, before sitting down at the table, Tony Blanco pushed him when he realized part of the ceiling was about to fall on him.

Unfortunately, Blanco didn’t… https://t.co/PLOQVJqifT

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) April 8, 2025

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Blanco was killed moments later as the roof gave way.

Blanco was among three baseball figures who lost their lives in the incident, including longtime pitcher Octavio Dotel and Nelsy Cruz, the sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz.

Germán played ten seasons in Major League Baseball, suiting up for the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers.

His standout year came in 2006 with the Royals, where he posted a .326 batting average, a .422 on-base percentage, and a .459 slugging percentage across 106 games. That season accounted for seven of his eight career home runs.

Over his 409-game career, Germán compiled a .280 batting average, a .359 on-base percentage, and a .386 slugging percentage, along with 11 RBIs.

Following his time in MLB, he extended his professional career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions and Orix Buffaloes.

As authorities continue to assess the structural failure and respond to the ongoing crisis, tributes are pouring in from across the baseball world. Blue Jays Central issued a public statement offering condolences to the families and friends of those affected by the disaster.

Rescue teams remain on site as the confirmed death toll continues to rise, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of more victims being recovered in the coming days.

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