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Pierzynski ready for Chicago return

ARLINGTON -- Catcher A.J. Pierzynski will be making his return to U.S. Cellular Field on Friday when the Rangers open a three-game series with the White Sox. Pierzynski was with the White Sox from 2005-12 and has caught more games at U.S. Cellular Field than any other catcher since it opened in 1991. He is also third all-time in games caught in White Sox history behind Sherm Lollar and Carlton Fisk.

"I will be glad to get it over with, especially Friday," Pierzynski said. "But I'm looking forward to it and seeing some people. I still have a lot of friends over there, guys who I will be friends with for life. It will be weird going into the visitor's clubhouse, but I'm looking forward to going to the city. I love the city, I love the organization and I love the fans. Hopefully we'll go in there and play well."

Also returning to the South Side is Alex Rios, who'll face the White Sox for the first time since he was traded to the Rangers on Aug. 9.

Geovany Soto is going back to Chicago as well. He played with Cubs from 2005-12, but he has already had his big reunion. The Rangers played three games at Wrigley Field earlier this season.

Soto, a right-handed hitter, should start at least one game with three left-handers on the mound for the White Sox. But Pierzynski is having an excellent season against left-handed pitchers. He has a .305 average against them this season, the sixth highest by a left-handed hitter with at least 100 at-bats against southpaws in the American League.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger.
Read More: Texas Rangers, A.J. Pierzynski