Pedro Martinez Devastated as Family Remains Missing After Dominican Republic Nightclub Collapse

Baseball legend Pedro Martinez is facing a personal tragedy as he revealed that some of his family members are still missing following the devastating roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning during a performance by merengue artist Rubby Pérez, has claimed the lives of at least 124 people, with fears that the number may rise.

In an emotional video posted on his Instagram account, Martinez expressed the pain and uncertainty his family is enduring. "We are all affected," he said. "I still have family members who are still in the rubbles, and we don’t know what happened to them." Despite the dire situation, the Hall of Famer called for strength and unity, drawing upon the resilience of the Dominican people. "We just want to be strong, like we have always been. We’re a country that prays a lot and remains united all the time, so I just hope everybody has the same courage."

The collapse occurred at approximately 1 a.m. when at least 300 people were inside the Jet Set nightclub. According to Juan Manuel Méndez, the director of the Emergency Operations Center, the collapse resulted in numerous casualties, also including two Americans. Rescue efforts have been underway since the tragedy struck, with emergency services working tirelessly to locate survivors and recover the deceased.

Dominican President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning to honor the victims of the tragedy. He and the First Lady Arbaje visited the scene of the collapse on Tuesday morning to offer condolences to the grieving families and oversee the rescue operations. "We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub," Abinader wrote on X. "All rescue agencies have provided the necessary assistance and are working tirelessly in the rescue efforts. Our prayers are with the affected families."

Pedro Martinez, a beloved figure in the Dominican Republic and across the baseball world, had an illustrious 18-season career, playing for five teams. A three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, he retired in 2009 and has since served as an analyst for TBS's MLB coverage and the MLB Network.