For the second time this offseason, a major league organization has hired a member of the Baseball America editorial staff to fill a position on its scouting staff.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday the hiring of Chris Kline as an area scout. Kline, 35, is in the Dominican Republic covering the Caribbean Series for BA and will join the Pirates full-time later in February. He’ll cover the upper Midwest for the Pirates, with a territory that includes Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas. Kline’s duties also will include professional scouting.

Scouting director Greg Smith told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "It’s a little outside the box, but Chris can bring an interesting perspective."

After covering the Carolina League with the Kinston (N.C.) Free Press, Kline began working for Baseball America in August 2003 when he started as an editorial intern. Since joining the magazine and website, he’s emerged as the national writer for the minor leagues and pioneered extensive coverage of international amateur players, particularly in Latin America. He also spent a week as a quasi-member of the Pirates organization when he traveled as a player with Triple-A Nashville and high Class A Lynchburg back in 2004.

Earlier this winter in December, the Rockies hired Alan Matthews as an area scout. Kline and Matthews are the third BA alumni hired as scouts in the last five years, joining Josh Boyd, hired in January 2004 to scout for the Padres. Boyd now works for the Rangers as manager of pro scouting.