Edwin Diaz Facebook posts link Dodgers pitcher to cockfighting since 2016

MLB pitcher Edwin Diaz appears to have made little effort to hide years of involvement in illegal cockfighting in his native Puerto Rico prior to May 15.

A Facebook page for Edwin O. Diaz Laboy that appears to belong to the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher includes about a dozen video of cockfights. Some of the birds fought until they stopped moving and were removed from the pit of the arena.

A federal ban prohibits cockfighting in all 50 states and in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. USA TODAY Sports reviewed publicly available photos and videos of Diaz, roosters and cockfights posted to the Facebook account on May 15. Other posts to the account were locked to the public. Public access to the photos and reels appears to have since been restricted.

Along with photos and videos of Diaz pitching, smiling with family and friends and promoting community activities, posted to the account are more than 150 photos of roosters, cockfighting clubs or breeding facilities. One photo shows roosters packed into cardboard boxes, their heads poking out of cutout holes above small feeding dishes taped to the boxes.

The account also includes 26 reels featuring roosters, some fighting in organized matches. Others are shown on what appears to be a breeding facility where Diaz is featured holding roosters while promoting upcoming cockfights in multiple videos.

Edwin Diaz and Martin Maldonado celebrate the win against Cuba.

In one video, young-looking roosters are scurrying about what looks like a pen. A caption accompanying the video reads, "Upcoming champions in development."

Photos and videos of Diaz posted to the account date back to 2010. The first photo of a rooster was posted on Nov. 30, 2016, while the account's first promotion of Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico, a cockfighting club, was posted on July 31, 2018. Diaz has been featured in multiple videos and photos posted to social media promoting the cockfighting ring.