DENVER (AP) — Justin Morneau laces up his cleats right next to the locker once belonging to Todd Helton, the first baseman whose shoes he’s now trying to fill.

Merely a coincidence, though. The Colorado Rockies slugger selected that space in the clubhouse only because good friend Michael Cuddyer resides on the other side.

Morneau insists he’s not trying to replace the retired Helton, only “do the things I’m capable of doing.”

He’s certainly off to a solid start, hitting .387 and scooping up just about everything thrown in his vicinity at first — just like Helton used to do.

Cuddyer says of Morneau, his longtime teammate in Minnesota: “Justin’s a relentless worker and continues to get better, to make our team better.”