By Bradley Corbett
For the second time in two weeks, a BYU baseball player has left the program and received an official release.
In June, star pitcher Jeff Mousser transferred to Arizona State, and this week infielder Clayton Carson has decided to transfer to a junior college.
'The main reason I''m leaving is I''ve dug myself in a hole academically, and I want to clean up my transcript,' Carson said. 'I''m going to transfer to a junior college closer to home.'
A native of Yucaipa, Calif., Carson said he is thinking about going to either Saddle Back junior college or Riverside Community College.
Carson, who is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that he didn''t really fit in at BYU.
'After two years here I just feel a little out of place,' Carson said. 'Dating is a bit of problem, and during conversations, I always have to repeat myself on why I am here.'
Carson''s brother and father also attended BYU.
The New York Yankees drafted his brother, Matt, in the fifth round last year out of BYU. He is playing with the Spokane Indians, a single-A team in the Yankees'' organization.
Carson says emphatically that BYU head coach Vance Law has nothing to do with him leaving.
'I have the utmost respect for coach Law and the whole coaching staff,' Carson said. 'He''s a great coach.'
Carson came to BYU two years ago along with his high school teammate Ryan Chambers.
'Ryan loves it, he''s having a great time,' Carson said.
Carson said his goal is to go to a junior college and improve his grades, and then possibly transfer back to a Division 1 school. He said his ultimate baseball goals are to progress as a player and have a future in professional baseball.
Carson batted .326 in 40 games, hitting seven home runs with the Cougars in 2003 as a designated hitter-shortstop. He was projected to be a major contributor next year for the Cougars.
BYU lost five graduating seniors this year, two juniors to professional baseball and now two transfers.
Centerfielder Brock Jacobsen left a year early to sign a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He is hitting .373 with two home runs and 14 RBIs for the Rangers'' rookie-league team in Surprise, Ariz.
The St. Louis Cardinals drafted third basemen Kainoa Obrey in the 13th round this year. He is hitting .254 with nine RBIs for the New Jersey Cardinals, a single-A team in Augusta, N.J.