Edwin Díaz’s move to the Los Angeles Dodgers was supposed to be a fresh start. Instead, it’s been a season to forget—and not just because of his elbow surgery after just seven appearances. The star closer is now caught in a controversy that stretches far beyond the diamond, with his name tied to an illegal cockfighting scandal in his native Puerto Rico.

According to a recent USA Today investigation, Díaz is among several high-profile Puerto Rican athletes linked to underground cockfighting events. The report found that photos of Díaz in a Dodgers uniform were used in Facebook posts by Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico, promoting events as early as February. One post, translated from Spanish, 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.”

Díaz isn’t alone in this spotlight. The scandal also involves horse-jockey brothers José Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr., who finished first and second in this year’s Kentucky Derby, as well as Edwin’s brother Alexis Díaz and former MLB catcher Martín Maldonado. The report claims Díaz has been involved in cockfighting for nearly a decade.

For those unfamiliar, cockfighting is a bloodsport where two roosters, often fitted with blades, fight to the death in a small ring. While it has deep cultural roots in Puerto Rico, the U.S. government banned the practice on the island in 2019. Many locals pushed back, arguing it was a cherished tradition, but the ban remains in effect—making participation a federal offense.

As the investigation unfolds, baseball fans are left wondering: how will this affect Díaz’s career with the Dodgers? For now, the focus is on his recovery from surgery, but this off-field scandal is a reminder that even the biggest stars can find themselves in the middle of a storm.