DETROIT -- Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson certainly isn’t second-guessing his decision to play football.

But, judging by the line drives he steadily sprayed over the field Friday, it’s possible he could've found similar success playing baseball, too.

Johnson took batting practice with the Detroit Tigers prior to their game against the Pittsburgh, crushing nearly two dozen would-be base hits off coach Gene Lamont.

It took a few pitches for the two-time Pro Bowler to find a rhythm, but during his second turn, he took a meatball into the home bullpen over the left-field wall.

It drew a hearty reaction from observers, including manager Jim Leyland, who watched the tail end of it and walked away with a grin.

"He hit that one out -- I’m impressed," said Leyland, who had a football signed by Johnson. "He’s a really talented guy."

Johnson said he told Delmon Young prior to the session that if he didn’t hit a home run, he’d keep coming back to Comerica Park until he could.

"But I’m still going to come back and do it again," he said.

Asked how it felt to clear the wall, Johnson smirked.

"My hands are kind of hurting now, but to see it go out was really gratifying," he said.

Joined by a handful of Lions teammates, only Johnson was able to hit a home run as wide receivers Nate Burleson and Marcus Harris both came up short.

Johnson met with players and coaches from both Detroit and Pittsburgh before the game and played toss with catcher Alex Avila prior to the pitch.

Baseball isn’t alien to Johnson, who played varsity baseball at Sandy Creek -- a high school located in Georgia. Johnson, a center fielder and pitcher, said he received interest from major league teams, but accepted a scholarship to play football at Georgia Tech.

"It’s huge out there in center field, but that was my job when I played," Johnson said. "If I played anything else, it’d be baseball."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he thankful Johnson chose football.

"So glad CJ decided to switch to football,"

, "but it would be fun to watch him roam centerfield."

Wearing a throwback negro league uniform and a Tigers cap, Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch, caught by left-hander Drew Smyly, prior to the club’s interleague opener.

With the Detroit Lions' traditional fight song "Gridiron Heroes" playing during his introduction, his pitch was high and outside.

Johnson, who also threw out the first pitch at Comerica Park the day after he was drafted in 2007, is the second Lions player to throw out a ceremonial first pitch this season.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford

in late April and Green Bay Packers wide receiver and Western Michigan alum Greg Jennings threw out the pitch Thursday afternoon.

Johnson is among a handful of celebrity judges that will participate in the sixth annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition, hosted by Tune Up of Radio One.

The winner will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to sing the national anthem prior to a Tigers game on July 2.

Johnson expressed interest in taking batting practice after the Tigers reached out to his representatives to ask if he could participate in the singing competition.

"We wanted to get out here and meet the guys on the team," he said. "And, I’m down for the cause."

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;A href="http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/pages/video?videoid=37e5628f-1878-42ab-a5d2-48a18ff55db9&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;src=v5:embed:syndication:&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="Calvin Johnson goes deep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Video: Calvin Johnson goes deep&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

-- Follow James Schmehl on Twitter: @jamesschmehl.