Three-Time MLB All-Star Promoted Illegal Cockfighting Events

Edwin Díaz, the $69 million closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been linked to an alleged illegal cockfighting operation in his native Puerto Rico, according to a report by USA Today.

The report, published Friday, tied Díaz to the federally banned blood sport through social media advertisements and promotional materials posted by cockfighting organizations on the island, including graphics showing the three-time All-Star in his Dodgers uniform promoting tournament events. One post reportedly advertised a “tribute” to Díaz, describing him as both a Puerto Rican sports hero and an active cockfighter.

The controversy deepened after a March interview with Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día resurfaced in which Díaz openly discussed his family’s participation in cockfighting events. According to the outlet, Díaz said his family entered four roosters into a recent tournament and described cockfighting as a hobby he had followed since childhood.

“It’s a pastime I’ve followed since I was a child,” Díaz reportedly said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

https://t.co/8yHIUOYXfE pic.twitter.com/OOUCaIo3Lg

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) May 15, 2026

Cockfighting has deep historical roots in Puerto Rico, where some residents continue to defend it as a cultural tradition dating back centuries. But that defense has not carried legal weight for years. The practice has been illegal in all U.S. states and territories since 2019, when a federal ban took effect. The Supreme Court later declined to hear a challenge that would have carved out an exception for Puerto Rico.

Federal law makes participation in a cockfight punishable by up to five years in prison and fines, while knowingly attending as a spectator can carry criminal penalties. No charges have been announced against Díaz, and neither the Dodgers nor his representatives responded publicly to the report as of Friday.

The report also mentioned several other prominent Puerto Rican athletes, including champion jockey brothers José Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr., who were allegedly photographed at cockfighting venues and appeared in videos tied to betting activity. Díaz’s younger brother, Alexis Díaz, was also named in social media posts promoting the same events.

For Major League Baseball, the allegations could present an off-field distraction involving a high-profile reliever. MLB’s personal conduct policy gives it broad discretion to investigate players for conduct deemed damaging to the sport, even absent criminal charges.

The timing is also awkward for Díaz personally. The veteran reliever, who signed a lucrative offseason deal with Los Angeles, is currently sidelined with an elbow injury after a rough start to the season, adding another layer of scrutiny to what was expected to be a routine rehabilitation.