Edwin Díaz denies wrongdoing tied to alleged Puerto Rico cockfighting links, as Dodgers return him to live batting

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz said he did nothing illegal after being linked to alleged cockfighting activity in Puerto Rico, a connection that has circulated through recent reporting and social media posts. In comments tied to his return to live action, Díaz pushed back directly at the premise of the allegations, arguing that the behavior described was legal in Puerto Rico.

Díaz’s remarks landed around his first time facing live batters since undergoing elbow surgery in April. The Dodgers reliever has been working back from the procedure, and Sunday marked a key checkpoint in his ramp-up as the team continues to plan its late-inning bullpen usage.

The controversy traces back to reporting earlier this year that found posts showing Díaz in a Dodgers uniform alongside promotions for cockfighting tournaments in Puerto Rico, as well as a separate profile in Puerto Rico’s El Nuevo Día describing attendance at an event and quoting Díaz about cockfighting’s status on the island. In that earlier coverage, USA Today and other outlets connected those accounts to the current conversation about whether Díaz should face discipline or attention from Major League Baseball.

While the debate centers on Díaz as an individual, the legal context is more complicated than a simple yes-or-no. Federal law banning cockfighting took effect for Puerto Rico through a nationwide ban that became active in 2019, according to reporting referenced by the Los Angeles Times. At the same time, the Los Angeles Times also reported that Puerto Rico responded by passing a local framework that allows hosting cockfights under restrictions, including limits on exporting or importing animals and related goods and services.

Díaz indicated that no one from Major League Baseball had reached out to him about a potential suspension, according to the Los Angeles Times report. He said the reason there was no MLB follow-up was because, in his view, he was not doing anything illegal.

Even for a reliever returning from elbow surgery, the timing adds stress to what is already a high-leverage role. Dodgers bullpen plans often depend on predictable availability, and the organization’s management of Díaz’s workload will be watched closely as he moves from live batting toward higher-intensity outings.

For MLB, the next steps are likely to revolve around whether any league investigation is initiated and, if so, what evidence and legal interpretations apply. For Dodgers fans, the immediate question is simpler: whether the elbow responds well as Díaz progresses past this first live-batter stage and into the kind of outings that determine late-season leverage.