SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) - Veteran outfielder Hunter Pence is set to start the season with his hometown Texas Rangers.

Manager Chris Woodward told Pence on Thursday he will be on the 25-man roster as the team's fourth outfielder when the Rangers open the regular season at home next Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.

That means slimmed-down young outfielder Willie Calhoun will start the season at Triple-A Nashville.

Pence, who turns 36 on April 13, went to spring training on a minor league contract. He is a .280 career hitter in 12 big league seasons with Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, and was part of two World Series championships with the Giants.

The three-time All-Star played at Arlington High School and then at the University of Texas-Arlington, only a few miles from the Rangers home stadium.

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