Ex-Utahn roaring for Tigers

Former Cottonwood High baseball star Chris Shelton finally found himself in the starting lineup on opening day.

And, man, did he make the most of his new starting gig in Major League Baseball.

Shelton, who also starred at the University of Utah, belted a pair of home runs for the Detroit Tigers as he helped lead his team to an opening-day victory over Kansas City.

After spending much of the last two seasons in major league rosters, Shelton found himself with a starting position at first base.

Monday's homers were the first multi-homer game of his career. But they're not necessarily an indication that the former Colt is going to turn in the next Barry Bonds.

"That's never my goal," Shelton told MLB.com. "My goal is to stay in the middle of the field. It's not going to change. I just want to continue hitting balls in the gap and hit the ball hard. Whatever happens, happens."

Shelton has split his playing time as a catcher and first baseman for the Tigers and has played 135 games for Detroit in his young career.

After spending most of the 2004 season as a bench player and seeing action in only 15 games, Shelton got his break last season when he broke into the lineup midway through the season and started 83 of the 85 games he played.

The right-handed batter ended the year with a respectable batting average of .299 with 18 homers and 59 RBIs.

His first home run, he said, was special. But that came in 2004 when he was hardly seeing any playing time. Now, he's at the top of Detroit's depth chart.

"The one two years ago, I was kind of in awe of everything," Shelton told MLB.com. "This was a lot more special to be in the lineup on opening day. I'll never forget it."

Though the season is still young, Shelton was the American League leader in home runs after opening day. That likely won't remain the case as the season unfolds, but for now, Shelton is enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

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