Summary (tl;dr)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Díaz has been implicated in illegal cockfighting events in his native Puerto Rico, with social media posts showing him promoting tournaments and a local newspaper quoting his participation despite a federal ban on the sport.

Essential Background

Cockfighting, a deeply rooted cultural tradition in Puerto Rico for centuries, was federally outlawed in all U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico, in 2019. This ban has been a source of tension, with many Puerto Ricans viewing it as an attack on their culture and local laws attempting to permit the activity as long as animals or related goods are not imported or exported. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the federal law in 2021.

The Full Story

Reports from USA Today have linked Edwin Díaz, a three-time MLB All-Star and current Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, to illegal cockfighting events in Puerto Rico. Social media posts from February reportedly show Díaz in his Dodgers uniform advertising cockfighting tournaments. Additionally, a March story in El Nuevo Día, a leading Puerto Rican newspaper, featured a photo of Díaz in a cockfighting arena and quoted him stating, "It's a pastime I've followed since I was a child. It's legal in Puerto Rico, thank God. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here." The article also mentioned his family entered four roosters in a tournament. Prominent horse racing jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. have also been tied to social media posts promoting these events.

Why It Matters

The allegations against Edwin Díaz are significant due to his high-profile status as an MLB player, potentially leading to disciplinary action from Major League Baseball and legal consequences, as participating in cockfighting carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine, while attending as a spectator can result in one year in prison and a fine. This situation also underscores the ongoing conflict between U.S. federal law and local cultural practices in Puerto Rico concerning the legality and enforcement of cockfighting bans.

Geographic Location

• Puerto Rico, United States (allegations of Edwin Díaz's involvement in illegal cockfighting events and social media posts promoting them)
• San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States (earlier local article from 2018 reported Díaz fought five roosters at a cockfighting club)
• Club Gallistico de Naguabo, Naguabo, Puerto Rico, United States (video posted on X appears to show jockeys collecting money from betting crowd)