Roberto Kelly has made his perch the past three seasons on the top step of the Augusta GreenJackets Class A baseball team, where he has guided teams with few top prospects to some of the best records in recent minor-league history.

Now, he's been called up to the big leagues once again.

Kelly, a former all-star outfielder in the majors, has been named the first-base coach and overseer of baserunning and outfield defense for the San Francisco Giants, senior vice president and general manager Brian Sabean announced this week.

"Roberto has served notice of his potential as a teacher of the game over the last three years with Augusta," Sabean said in a release. "He brings a wealth of knowledge about winning baseball to (manager Bruce Bochy's) staff and we look forward to having him on the major league club."

Kelly, who made his name as a player with the New York Yankees, made his name as a coach and manager with the GreenJackets, posting a 285-157 record (.622 winning percentage).

He was named the 2006 South Atlantic League Manager of the Year and managed Augusta to the best record in all of minor league baseball in each of the past two seasons, going 92-47 in 2006 and 89-51 this past season.

"We're really excited for him because he certainly has proven himself at this level," GreenJackets general manager Nick Brown said. "This is a testament to the work he has done here the last three years. I think he will have a lot to offer at the Major League level."

Kelly, 43, hit .290 with 124 home runs and 585 RBI in 14 seasons in the majors. He perhaps is best known as being the center fielder for the Yankees prior to Bernie Williams and the player traded to the Braves by the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Deion Sanders.