Worth noting

• Rangers pitchers Derek Holland and Derek Lowe took a few shots with the Michigan basektball team as it practiced at Cowboys Stadium Thursday ahead of the Sweet 16 and then visited with players in the locker room. Meanwhile, catcher A.J. Pierzynski attended Florida's practice and came back with a box full of Gator paraphernalia.

• The Rangers play the San Diego Padres twice in San Antonio to wrap up their exhibition season, with Alexi Ogando starting Friday night's game (7:05 p.m. CT) against left-hander Eric Stults and Holland going on Saturday (1:05 p.m.) against right-hander Jason Marquis.

• The Rangers released 19 Minor League players Thursday, including former Arlington Grace Prep Academy standout Matt Thompson, a right-handed pitcher selected in the seventh round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Others cut: RHP Andres Perez-Lobo, LHP Austen Thrailkill, RHP Ben Henry, RHP Brandon Kuter, RHP Daniel Lopez, RHP Denny Peralta, 2B/OF Gabe Suarez, OF Jared Prince, OF Jeremy Williams, 1B/OF Jhonny Gomez, RHP Jorge DeJesus, RHP Kyle Devore, RHP Shawn Blackwell, LHP Timp Murphy, C/OF Yefry Castillo, RHP Yonata Ortega, RHP Zach Osborne and RHP Zach Simons.