ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Thirteen members of the first team to play in Arlington, the 1972 Rangers, will participate in the first-pitch ceremony for Friday's season opener against the Chicago White Sox at 1:05 p.m. CT at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Taking part in the ceremony are outfielder Larry Biittner, catcher Rich Billings, pitcher Dick Bosman, catcher Bill Fahey, outfielder Ted Ford, pitcher Bill Gogolewski, outfielder Tom Grieve, shortstop Toby Harrah, pitcher Rich Hand, pitcher Jim Panther, pitcher Don Stanhouse, catcher Ken Suarez and coach Wayne Terwilliger.

The national anthem will be performed by Texas country recording artists Reckless Kelly. B-1 bombers from the 7th Bomb Wing of Dyess Air Force base in Abilene are scheduled to fly over Rangers Ballpark following the anthem.

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington cash parking lots will open at 8:00 a.m., and ballpark gates will open at 10 a.m. on Friday. All fans, 21 years of age and older, will receive a Rangers Budweiser Opening Day Magnetic Schedule as they enter the park. The Rangers are 20-20 in regular-season openers since 1972, winning the last three seasons. It will be the fifth time the club has opened the season with the White Sox, with the four previous games also in Arlington, a 1973 loss and '83 win at Arlington Stadium, and a '98 loss and 2000 win at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Gonzalez, Snyder, Gentry make Texas' bench

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- The Rangers finalized their bench for their Opening Day roster, keeping infielders Alberto Gonzalez and Brandon Snyder and outfielder Craig Gentry.

Julio Borbon, the Rangers' starting center fielder on Opening Day the past two seasons, will start the year at Triple-A Round Rock. Borbon batted .250 for the spring.

The Rangers kept Gentry as a right-handed-hitting option in center field when starter Josh Hamilton moves over to left.

Gonzalez beat out Luis Hernandez in what manager Ron Washington said was an even battle all spring. Gonzalez has more Major League experience than Hernandez and has averaged 107 games a season the past three years for San Diego and Washington.

Gonzalez is batting .293 for the spring, while Hernandez is at .282.

"They both played evenly," Washington said. "Gonzalez has had more time sitting around at the Major League level and being able to perform. We felt like Hernandez needed to continue to play. It came down to more or less experience."

Snyder, acquired from Baltimore for cash considerations this offseason, can play catcher, first base, third and left field.

Washington said it's up to Round Rock manager Bobby Jones on whether Borbon or top prospect Leonys Martin will play center field. Martin was in center and Borbon in left for Monday's exhibition game against the Rangers.

The Rangers haven't finished setting their bullpen. They still have to decide whether to place right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama on the disabled list. He has been dealing with stiffness in his lower back and hasn't pitched since allowing three runs in an inning against the Giants on Thursday.

The Rangers have until 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday to set their final roster. The Rangers also continue to look for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, although the club is not close to anything.

Worth noting

• Josh Hamilton started in center field Monday despite having problems with a migraine headache earlier in the day. Hamilton was expected to play five innings.

• Third baseman Adrian Beltre was back in the lineup for a second straight day after not playing since Wednesday against Kansas City because of mild lower back tightness.

• MLB Network will carry the Rangers-Mexico City exhibition game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington live on Tuesday.