Alpine, TX – Sal Diaz and Chris McLean, who both recently finished their collegiate playing careers with the Roos baseball team this spring, have signed professional baseball contracts with the Alpine Cowboys of the Pecos League.

Diaz is currently hitting .323 with a .661 slugging % with 62 at-bats in 20 games. He is tied for the team lead with seven doubles and second with four homers and has driven in 25 runs. McLean currently serves as an important member of the reserve team looking to make his debut soon. The Cowboys sit at 19-11 overall on the season leading the Mountain South Division of the standings. The team is on a tear as of late going 16-5 since June 4.

About the Alpine Cowboys
The Alpine Cowboys compete in the 16-team independent Pecos League. There are three divisions as the Cowboys compete in the Mountain South Division with the Pecos Bills, Santa Fe Fuego, Roswell Invaders and Tucson Saguaros. The Mountain North Division consists of the Blackwell Flycatchers, Garden City Wind, North Platte 80s, Trinidad Triggers and Grand Junction. The third division is the Pacific Division and includes the Bakersfield Train Robbers, Dublin Leprechauns, Martinez Sturgeon, Monterey Amberjacks, San Rafael Pacifics and Vallejo Seaweed. The Cowboys and all teams play a 54-game regular season schedule from late May through the end of July.
   
Diaz, who was named D3baseball.com First Team All-Region and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Second Team All-Region as well as SUNYAC First Team All-Conference, led the Roos hitting .374 during the 2026 season with 37 hits, 11 doubles, seven homers, 23 RBI, a .496 on-base % and .697 slugging %. He was named to the D3Baseball.com National Team of the Week and the SUNYAC Athlete of the Week (3/23/26) while also earning the SUNYAC's prestigious Award of Valor.

McLean was tabbed SUNYAC Second Team All-Conference after hitting .308 during his final season with the Roos leading the team with 31 runs, five sac flies and 25 RBI while posting 36 hits, five doubles, a triple, three homers and a .407 on-base % while going 19-for-22 on stolen bases.

"We are incredibly proud of both Sal and Chris as they continue their playing careers at the next level with the Alpine Cowboys," Head SUNY Canton Baseball Coach Ryan Stevens said. "They have both worked extremely hard to get to this level and are a great representation of our program. We look forward to seeing their continued successes on and off the ball field."
 

Diaz and McLean join Seth Douglas '17 as former Roos to play for the Alpine Cowboys. Douglas spent two seasons with the Cowboys in 2017 and 2018 appearing in 87 games hitting .397 with a .501 on-base % recording 16 homers, 112 hits, 17 doubles, two triples and 89 RBI in 354 at-bats over 87 games. Coach Stevens also served as head coach of the Cowboys from 2010-2015.
 
   

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.