A year from now, Chris Shelton could be the Tigers’ Opening Day first baseman.

That might be hard to see right now — especially for Shelton.

He was somberly packing up his bags in the clubhouse this morning after being part of the team’s final spring-training cut.

But Shelton showed with a strong spring that he apparently has regained the batting stroke that mysteriously eluded him after his big start last season. “I feel I have my consistency back,” Shelton said.

• Tigers cut Shelton, Miner, Seay