Colin Kaepernick clocked at 87 mph on first pitch

Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks have more in common than instigating the NFL's read-option revolution by threatening defenses in a myriad of ways.

Kaepernick was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 43rd round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft as a right-handed pitcher despite not having played baseball since high school in 2006. A year later, the Colorado Rockies drafted Wilson in the fourth round as a second baseman out of N.C. State.

Wilson made news earlier this month when the Safeco Field scoreboard registered his opening pitch at 98 miles per hour. It turns out the Mariners exaggerated for effect, as the pitch actually traveled 75 miles per hour.

Since Kaepernick was a pitcher capable of flirting with 92 miles per hour, it would be a disappointment if he couldn't top Wilson when the Niners quarterback threw out the first pitch at Friday night's San Francisco Giants game.

No worries. According to the 49ers' Twitter account, Kaepernick was clocked at 87 miles per hour. The broadcast team corroborated the radar-gun reading, per ProFootballTalk.com. Not too shabby for an abbreviated delivery in blue jeans.

If Wilson wants to wrest bragging rights away from Kaepernick, he can do it by leading the Seahawks to their first NFC West crown since 2010. This pair of athletic young quarterbacks will be at the forefront of the NFL's nextgreatrivalry, perhaps for another decade or longer.

Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.