SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The last time Roberto Kelly was in a major league camp, the veteran outfielder survived to the last day. Then he was called into Manager Bruce Bochy's office.

Kelly didn't make the San Diego Padres' opening-day roster in 2003. He hit .340 that spring, but the club kept Rule 5 draftee Shane Victorino instead.

"I did everything possible to make that team, but I understood," said Kelly, who played in the major leagues in 1987-2000 and spent three years trying to get back.

This spring, Kelly is guaranteed a spot on the Giants' charter flight north. Bochy hired him this winter as his first-base coach. The two-time All-Star will be in charge of outfield and baserunning instruction, and if the teams he managed the past three years at Class A Augusta provide any clue, he'll soon have the Giants stealing everything that isn't nailed down.

Augusta was 89-51 last year, the best record in minor league baseball — an underachiever compared to the 2006 club, which was 92-47. The GreenJackets won with superb starting pitching and a speed-based offense that had more green lights than the Coke bottle at AT&T Park.

Sound like a familiar formula? It's no surprise that when Bochy and General Manager Brian Sabean went over coaching personnel, they realized promoting Kelly was a no-brainer.

"The teams he managed had a lot of speed and used it well," Bochy said. "He has a great way about him, he's very professional, and he had a successful career in the big leagues. He'll help the runners to read pitchers, work on their jumps, their secondary leads — all the things that help you take an extra base."

Those extra bases will be crucial, too.

"Especially for us," Bochy said, "playing in a bigger ballpark when you don't have the power you used to."

With Dave Roberts, Rajai Davis, Fred Lewis and Eugenio Velez, the Giants are loaded with speed. They have more in their minor league system, including Emmanuel Burriss, Brian Bocock and Mike McBryde.

Velez already has benefited from Kelly's expertise. He was a bench player in the Toronto system before 2006, when he stole 64 bases at Augusta and was the South Atlantic League's MVP. Now Velez has a shot at making the big league club out of camp.

"Everything I know right now, I learned from Roberto Kelly," Velez said. "He said, `If a pitcher has a quick move, he'll give you something. Pay attention and you'll see it.' "

Burriss was Kelly's top speedster last year with 51 stolen bases, though it wasn't supposed to work that way. Burriss hit .165 in 36 games at San Jose and was demoted to Augusta in May. His confidence was at an all-time low when Kelly received him.

Kelly — who stole 235 bases, including a high of 42 with the New York Yankees in 1990 — made a striking impression on Burriss with his deep voice and stern expression. They went to the cage for early work every day, and Burriss hit .321 for Augusta.

"There's a difference between a hard-working team and a team that wants to work hard," Burriss said. "His teams want to work hard."

Kelly smiled when told of the compliment.

"Once they start seeing the results, they understand why they had to work so hard," Kelly said. "It's not like I give them a choice anyway."

Kelly gives the Giants' staff a Spanish speaker for the first time since Manager Felipe Alou's contract was not renewed after the `06 season. That's no small contribution, Alou said.

"There is no question the Giants are making a comeback in Latin America," said Alou, now a Giants special assistant. "We have a number of players in the minor leagues, beginning with (17-year-old) Angel Villalona, who we believe will be in the big leagues real soon. And Roberto has already helped Villalona, not just about the game, but life in general.

"It's good because this is a club that will get younger and younger, and a lot of these guys will be Latins."

Kelly was flattered to hear that Alou considered him a solid major league managerial prospect. It's something Kelly never envisioned during his playing career.

Bochy just had one issue to settle before adding Kelly to the staff: to apologize for cutting him five years ago.

"He should've made that club," Bochy said. "He's a part of ours now."