Wren proves that bloodlines run deep through baseball, but often bloodlines extend from other playing fields, such as the gridiron, which is the case for Kettleers’ freshman catcher Stefan Sabol (Oregon). Sabol is the cousin of all-pro Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. Sabol hails from Aliso Viejo, California, in Orange County, and is related to Polamalu through his mother, who moved from Western Samoa when she was a child. “I have only met him at a family luau party, and he is very quiet, but all the kids love him,” he says.

Sabol is half Samoan, but don’t judge his athletic abilities based on his position as a catcher, even though many associate catchers as slow and clunky, like major leaguers Benjie, Jose and Yadier Molina. Whatever genetics Polamalu received, the 6-2, 210 pound Sabol received at least some of those blessed attributes. He finished first in the SPARQ testing (which tests and measures athleticism) at last summer's 2010 Area Code Games in California and was considered to be one of the top prep athletes in the 2010 draft. He posted an astounding 36.2-inch vertical leap and a 6.28-second time over 60 yards (Jacoby Ellsbury posted a 6.55 when the Red Sox drafted him in 2005).

I can't say I know a great deal about running and times, but "70 grade runner" Cowpay ran the 60 in 6.46.

6.28 sounds ridonkulous. If its true, I think he's selling himself a bit short by comparing himself to someone he's slower than. How about "I think of myself as a faster, more exciting Carl Crawford"?

Reyes said his best time in the 60 was 6.2 seconds in 2001, when he was a teenager, but he fell off only to 6.3 or 6.4 in later years, when healthy.

Stefan Sabol, C-OF, Aliso Niguel High School, Laguna Niguel, California
The 6-2, 205 pound Sabol has very good speed and should hit for power as well; the main question for him is defense. Currently a catcher, his speed goes to waste behind the plate in the eyes of some scouts, who see him as a future center fielder. Others believe that his combination of quickness, agility, and arm strength are rare attributes for a catcher. He needs help with the finer points of backstop work, but if he stays behind the plate he can polish up his receiving skills with more experience. His draft position is up in the air at the moment, and there's at least some chance he could end up at the University of Oregon if he falls too far.

The most exciting—and the most visceral—aspect of the SPARQ tests is pure speed. Virtually all scouts skip past the other measurements and focus on the 60 yard dash times. Here are the top 5 finishers:

1) Fernelys Sanchez, NY Yankees 6.35
2) Johnny Eierman, White Sox 6.41
3) Desmond Henry, Brewers 6.47
4) Charles Tilson, White Sox 6.54
5) Derek Starling, White Sox & Connor McKay, Reds 6.56

The highest overall score in 2009 was posted by Stefan Sabol, a catcher/outfielder from Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Sabol, whose cousin is Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, recorded a stratospheric 80.87 overall score. That rivals other top marks recorded in previous Area Code SPARQ testing by stalwarts such as Kenny Diekroger, Cutter Dykstra and Toby Gerhart.

Sabol trampolined to a remarkable 36.2 inch vertical leap, and shocked everyone present—himself included—by racing off to one of the fastest 60 times in Area Code history—6.28. The score is shocking because Sabol typically runs in the 6.5- to 6.7-second range.

Sabol plays baseball exclusively, and I asked him to scout himself. “I think my strengths are my athletic ability, speed and quick hands. I need to learn the game and work on my catching skills, plus I need to become a more vocal leader.” Many scouts would like to see Sabol shift to the outfield, but he contends: “I’m committed to catching. I’ll switch if I have to, but I hope that’s only later in my career."