Hours before the First-Year Player Draft begins Sunday, four McNeese State players got a jump-start on their pro baseball careers.

The four former recent Cowboys signed contracts with the MLB Independent League.

The draft runs through Tuesday with McNeese ace right-hander Grant Rogers projected to go on the second or third day. Last year, Cowboys closer Cameron Foster was selected by the New York Mets in the 14th round.

“My goal is to play professional baseball,” Rogers said. “I’m looking forward to the draft and the opportunity.”

For shortstop Josh Leslie, second baseman Brad Burckel, pitcher Derrick Cherry and outfielder Payton Harden, their careers will begin shortly. Three of the four will remain teammates, as they signed with the State College Spikes in Pennsylvania.

Burckel is headed to Niles, Ohio, and will play with the Valley Scrapper.

“It is exciting to see them take the next step in their careers,” Cowboys head coach Justin Hill said. “All they want is to have a chance and now they will get one.”

The group is the latest from McNeese to play professionally. All four are transfers with Harden being the longest-tenured Cowboy.

“This shows we have talent here and that we can develop talent,’ Hill said. “It also shows that we are getting the type of players who want to work hard and make the most of their opportunities.”

Harden had a chance to sign last year but returned to McNeese in hopes of improving his value and setting a few school records along the way. Harden, the Southland Conference Player of the Year as a junior in 2012, set the Cowboy record for career hits, runs scored, stolen bases, and games played.

As a senior Harden hit .281 with 28 runs batted in and three homers. He also stole 25 bases.

Leslie led the Cowboys with a .313 average and 57 RBIs with eight home runs. He moved from third base to short and became a solid defender with a .950 fielding percentage and a team-high 13 errors and second in double players (33).

Leslie struck out 17 times in 243 at-bats while leading the conference with 26 doubles.

Burckel hit .283 in the spring and eight home runs, driving in 35 while stealing 20 bags. Cherry, like Burckel, a transfer from Houston, finished his one season at McNeese with a 3-3 record and 5.74 earned run average.

“All each of those guys want is to have a chance,” Hill said. “They have earned that and it will be fun to watch their careers.”

The fifth McNeese athlete to sign a pro contract this week was Divine Tanks. The Barbe High product signed a one-year deal to play basketball with Eintracht Braunschweig in Braunschweig, Germany.

Tanks, a 2021 all-Southland selection, led the Cowgirls in scoring and rebounding last year, averaging 9.2 points and 6.8 boards a game. She finished her career ranked fourth all-time in rebounding at McNeese.