On May 14, 2026 around 3:30pm, USA Today published an article linking Edwin Diaz of the Los Angeles Dodgers to cockfighting in Puerto Rico. As of press time, it has been almost 24 hours since this article was published — and all of the biggest MLB reporters in the biz, and all the major sports outlets, are silent. Except for this one report from Sports Illustrated which brazenly buries the lede:
The story is finally trending on social media a day after the news broke, however it is mostly YouTubers, fan-run twitter accounts, gambling accounts like underdog, etc. taking part in the discussion. Not a peep from the Jon Heymans, the Buster Olneys, or the Ken Rosenthals of the world. If this story was coming from some fringe outlet with weak evidence, I would understand hesitation to report on this. But it’s USA Today! Boob Nightengale is a national baseball writer for USA Today and even he hasn’t said anything! And the evidence is damning as can be. It could not possibly be more iredeemable. It’s almost comical.
Let’s start with my personal summary of the situation, then the raw source material. Here’s my summary:
- Edwin Diaz was pictured in Dodgers Uniform in advertisements for a prominent cockfighting arena
- There are pictures of him smiling in courtside seats at the cockfighting arena
- He is a decorated cockfighting champion, and openly acknowledges this to Puerto Rican media
- He signs autographs and poses for selfies with fans at the cockfighting arena (this is used as promo)
- He is quoted THANKING GOD for cockfighting being legal in Puerto Rico (it’s not)
- Says he would not want to be in Puerto Rico if cock fighting were illegal (it is)
- Calls the cockfighting arena his home and says he feels safe there
- Compares cockfighting to being a closer while describing one of his roosters’ brutal deathmatches
- There’s a painting of him in Mets uniform at the cockfighting arena above the fighting pit
Below are some excerpts from an article in Puerto Rico’s largest circulating newspaper, El Nuevo Día, and images pulled from cited sources in USA Today’s article, to back up my colorful summary.
Here’s an ad for cockfighting organization Club Gallístico featuring Diaz in official MLB uniform:
Here’s Edwin Diaz posing for a selfie at Club Gallístico in front of the cockfighting pit.
Diaz talking about being an avid cockfighter and thanking God for cockfighting (El Nuevo Día):
The cockfighting arena promoting Diaz autographs/selfies (USA Today):
Diaz saying the cockfighting arena feels like home and that he feels safe there (El Nuevo Día):
Comparing cockfighting to being a closer, and mention of a painting of him in uniform (USA Today):
Can you imagine if this were Francisco Lindor? Or if Diaz was still a met? The media coverage would be quick and relentless. Like Ohtani’s gambling, this is going to be covered up and swept under the rug.