Second Former MLB Player, Tony Blanco, Dies in Dominican Republic Nightclub Collapse

Tony Blanco, a former Major League Baseball player and father of current Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Tony Blanco Jr., is among the dozens who died in Tuesday morning’s roof collapse at a Dominican Republic nightclub, the country’s government said.

Blanco was 43 years old.

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Sports and Recreation confirmed Blanco’s death with an announcement on social media on Tuesday afternoon.

“We deeply regret the passing of former Major Leaguer, Tony Blanco,” the ministry wrote. “His legacy will remain in the history of national baseball. We join in their grief his family, friends, and teammates, and raise our prayers for his eternal rest. Peace to his soul.”

Kelvin Cruz, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Sports, also confirmed the news of Blanco’s death with a social media post on Tuesday.

Blanco, a first baseman, played minor league baseball in the United States for eight years, making the MLB once with the Washington Nationals in 2005 before continuing his career in Japan’s top Nippon Baseball League. PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for the Washington Nationals.

In Japan, Blanco played with the Chunichi Dragons, the Orix Buffaloes and the Yokohama Bay Stars. Blanco concluded his career with the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League during the 2016-17 season before retiring.

Blanco’s son, Tony Blanco Jr., is currently a prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

At least 58 people died and more than 160 were injured in the early Tuesday morning roof collapse, according to the The Guardian, The Associated Press, and NBC News. The incident happened around 1 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, according to La Nación.

Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel also died in the collapse, PEOPLE reported earlier Tuesday. Nelsy Cruz, the sister of former MLB slugger Nelson Cruz and governor of the northwestern Dominican Republic province of Montecristi, was another of the victims.

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A third former MLB player, Esteban Germán, was also at the club but left shortly before the roof collapse occurred. Germán had posted a clip on his Instagram stories late Monday night, showing a band performing at the club. Shortly after news broke of the collapse, the retired Texas Rangers player provided an additional update that he was also “fine” and said he was outside the club trying to help victims.

Henry Blanco, a former MLB catcher, was mistakenly reported to be at the club as well earlier in the day. The Washington Nationals confirmed to PEOPLE that Henry Blanco, a current pitching coach with the team, was not at the club and was with the Nationals in the U.S. on Monday night.

Relief efforts continued Tuesday afternoon, as Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía de Garrigó wrote on X, per a translation, that emergency workers “will continue to make every effort and remain united in prayer.”

PEOPLE also reached out for more information from the Dominican Republic Center of Emergency Operations but did not receive an immediate response Tuesday.