Jelks

SLIPPERY ROCK — Former major league third baseman Greg Jelks was signed as manager of the Frontier League's Slippery Rock Sliders expansion team, club general manager Steve Tahsler announced Wednesday.

Jelks spent nine years in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and appeared in 10 games with the Phillies in 1987. He played a year of Class AAAball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and spent two years playing professional baseball in Italy.

Jelks, who became an Australian citizen in 1995, has been heavily involved in international baseball. He played for the Australian national team from 1997-99 and served as the squad's hitting coach in the 2000 Olympics.

He also served as Australia's defensive coach in last spring's World Baseball Classic.

During the past five years, Jelks has been manager of the Frontier League's Evansville Otters. Tahsler was Evansville's general manager when the franchise won the Frontier League championship last year.

Jelks is the only manager in the Frontier League with major league playing experience.

Along with his Frontier League work, Jelks has served as field manager for the Perth (Australia) Heat the past two years, winning the national championship both years.

He also is field manager for the Morley Eagles, now in first place in the Western Australia State League with a 20-4-1 record.