Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz has finally broken his silence regarding illegal cockfighting allegations.
In May, Edwin Diaz was implicated in an illegal cockfighting ring in his home country of Puerto Rico. Multiple Facebook posts promoting cockfighting featured the relief pitcher, who signed a three-year, $69 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason.
One of the ads, which showed an image of Diaz in his Dodgers uniform, read, “The Puerto Rico Cockfighting Club invites all enthusiasts to a special match and a grand tribute to one of our island’s greatest sources of pride: A Tribute to the Puerto Rican Star and Cockfighter Edwin ‘Sugar’ Díaz.”
Earlier this year, Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día published a story with a photo showing Edwin Diaz standing in the pit of a cockfighting arena. Diaz told the paper, “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.”
Edwin Diaz finally responds to allegations that he was involved in cockfighting
On Sunday, Edwin Díaz said he had not engaged in any illegal activity and had not heard from MLB officials regarding the cockfighting. Being featured in ads promoting the illegal activity while wearing a Dodgers uniform certainly violates some code of conduct.
“I’m concentrated to help this team to win, concentrated to be back ready as soon as possible,” Díaz said, adding, “I’m not thinking too much about that. That’s a past story.”
Cockfighting has been illegal in all U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, since 2019. Participating in cockfighting carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The court can also impose a one-year prison sentence on spectators.
However, Puerto Rico passed legislation allowing people to host cockfights as long as they do not export or import the animals, as well as any goods or services associated with cockfighting.
“I’ve been doing that before because, like I said in the story, that’s legal in Puerto Rico,” Diaz continued.
“They didn’t reach out to me because I wasn’t doing anything illegal,” Díaz said. “At the end of the day, I’m looking to help this team to win.”
Edwin Diaz’s comments came after facing live batters for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery in April. Diaz is expected to return to the Dodgers’ bullpen after the All-Star break and will soon head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Dave Roberts.