The San Francisco 49ers currently are reaping the benefits of having the foresight to draft Colin Kaepernick.
It might come as a surprise to learn the 49ers weren't the only team to draft Kaepernick. The Chicago Cubs chose Kaepernick in the 43rd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.
Kaepernick didn't play baseball at the University of Nevada, but reports of a 90-mph fastball during his high school days made him worth a flier. Kaepernick declined the Cubs' interest and remained in school.
"I ended up watching him play a couple times in football and really liked his athleticism," Sam Hughes, a member of the Cubs' amateur scouting department, told FoxSports.com. "But he had a real long arm stroke that's not very Dan Marino-esque. When he was a sophomore in college, I didn't know how his game would translate in the NFL.
"Our NFL sources at the time thought he was going to be a later-round or CFL guy."
After Hughes saw Kaepernick wearing a Milwaukee Brewers hat during a postgame interview Sunday, he texted the quarterback.
"Let's not forget you were drafted by the Cubs," Hughes joked. "I want to see you rocking the Cubbie Blue. ... And by the way, pretty good game."
Kaepernick's reply? "LOL. Thank you."
Just another near miss by the lovable losers from Wrigleyville.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
