SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers pitcher Alexi Ogando is going back to the bullpen. He wouldn't mind going back as the closer.

He probably won't get his wish. It is far more likely that he will go back as a setup reliever, with Neftali Feliz remaining as the closer.

"His role is the same ... whenever we put him in the game," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Feliz is starting against the Padres on Thursday and is still technically a candidate for the rotation. But the Rangers are strongly leaning toward leaving him as the closer because they have far more concerns about their bullpen than the rotation.

Ogando would be the leading -- possibly only -- candidate to close if Feliz moves into the rotation. Ogando was 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in 44 games as a rookie in 2010. The 1.30 ERA was the lowest in one season by a Rangers pitcher with a minimum of 40 innings pitched.

"When you see somebody with his command and can throw as hard as he can throw, he does have the capability to close," Washington said. "But we in baseball know not everybody can do it. The only guy in our bullpen who has that experience is Neftali. We'll see."

Ogando wants the job and believes he can do it.

"I feel I'm mentally strong and don't think it will affect me that much," Ogando said.

Borbon addressing errors in center field

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Julio Borbon was scratched from Wednesday's lineup because he had to leave camp and attend to a personal matter. He is expected back on Thursday.

David Murphy was in center on Wednesday, but that was only a temporary measure. The Rangers still look at Borbon as their starting center fielder.

"I haven't changed my mind," manager Ron Washington said.

Borbon is hitting .380 for the spring with a .404 on-base percentage and a club-leading five stolen bases. He has also made five errors in the field, a situation that the Rangers want corrected. Borbon has spent extra time with outfield coach Gary Pettis working on it.

"He's getting better," Washington said. "We see some deficiencies we want corrected and have brought it to his attention. He's working hard to correct it. That's what Spring Training is all about.

"He knows what's on the line. We haven't kept it a secret."

The Rangers want to see Murphy in center but don't see him as a permanent alternative. Josh Hamilton is the backup plan in center should Borbon lose the job. The Rangers would prefer to leave Hamilton in left and save some wear-and-tear on him.

"He's one of the best center fielders in baseball," Washington said. "If that's what we have to do, that's what we'll do. But that's a lot of work, and he's a big man. We want to keep him healthy."

Vandergriff family to receive AL champs ring

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers will present the first 2010 American League championship ring to the Vandergriff family. They will do so at the 2011 Welcome Home Luncheon, which is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT on March 31 at the Arlington Convention Center.

The gesture is in honor of the late Tom Vandergriff, the former Arlington mayor who was instrumental in bringing the Rangers from Washington D.C. in 1971. He passed away on Dec. 30.

"It is only fitting that the first recipient of a 2010 AL championship ring is the Vandergriff family," club president Nolan Ryan said. "The passion and determined efforts of Tom Vandergriff made the Texas Rangers a reality nearly 40 years ago. Because of his work, we are able to celebrate an AL championship."

The Welcome Home Luncheon is hosted in part by Arlington mayor Robert Cluck, with net proceeds benefiting the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. Ryan, general manager Jon Daniels, manager Ron Washington and the entire 2011 team are expected to be in attendance.

The Rangers players, coaches and field staff will receive their 2010 AL championship rings in an on-field presentation prior to the April 2 game against the Red Sox.

Briefly

Darren Oliver is scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game on Thursday. ... Craig Gentry (sprained right shoulder) is throwing and taking batting practice in the indoor cages. ... Beginning Wednesday, the Rangers will be on television in four straight games.