Former Major League Baseball player Tony Blanco, father of Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Tony Blanco Jr., was confirmed among the dozens killed in Tuesday’s catastrophic roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic. The 43-year-old former first baseman, who played for the Washington Nationals in 2005 before continuing his career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, was remembered by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Sports as a national baseball legend.
The tragedy at the Santo Domingo venue claimed at least 58 lives and injured over 160 others during early morning hours, according to multiple reports. Among the victims was also former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel and Nelsy Cruz, sister of retired slugger Nelson Cruz and governor of Montecristi province.
Former Texas Rangers infielder Esteban Germán narrowly escaped, having left shortly before the collapse after posting video of the live performance on social media.
Blanco’s eight-year professional career included stints with the Chunichi Dragons, Orix Buffaloes and Yokohama Bay Stars in Japan before retiring with the Estrellas Orientales in 2016-17. His legacy continues through his son, currently developing in the Pirates’ farm system.
The baseball community mourned the loss, with the Nationals organization acknowledging Blanco’s passing while clarifying that current pitching coach Henry Blanco (no relation) was safely stateside.
As emergency crews continued search operations, Santo Domingo’s mayor pledged ongoing relief efforts for one of the Caribbean nation’s deadliest structural failures in recent memory.
The incident has left the tight-knit Dominican baseball community reeling, with tributes pouring in for the athletes and public figures lost in the disaster.
