A member of the 2010 national champion South Carolina baseball team has been kicked-off the 2011 squad. Gamecocks head coach Ray Tanner announced Tuesday that sophomore Ethan Carter has been dismissed for a violation of team rules.

Ethan Carter

Carter made 24 relief appearances for USC as a true freshman. He was 3-0 with two saves and a 5.46 ERA in 28.0 IP for the national champions.

The 6’5 righthander was expected to vie for a spot in South Carolina’s starting rotation this season. He was the 20o9 Gatorade Virginia High School Baseball Player of the Year.

He told The State Newspaper in Columbia “It’s extremely disappointing, and I’m going to miss my teammates,” Carter said. “I know I let them down with my violation of team rules, but I’ve got to take it in stride. Whenever one door closes, another one opens. I just have to try to make the best of the situation.”

Carter is expected to transfer to a junior college.