With their first few regular-season starts in the independent American Association, Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers have solidified their position in the upper half of the first round.

Crow hasn’t allowed a run in his first two starts for the Fort Worth Cats, striking out 13 in 11 innings and retiring 31 of the 38 batters he’s faced. His stuff has been nearly as good as it was when he starred at Missouri last spring—and good enough that he could go as high as No. 3 to the Padres or No. 4 to the Pirates. He’s believed to be seeking at least the $4 million his advisers, the Hendricks brothers, asked for at the Aug. 15 signing deadline last year.

"He looks just a tick behind 2008, almost like he’s in the middle of spring training," an American League front-office official said. "I’ve seen him flash 95 mph with his fastball, and I’ve seen him flash a hard, 87 mph slider. He’s just a little inconsistent, but he’s not far away. And physically, he looks better than ever."

Scheppers, a former Fresno State star, has had higher readings on the radar guns and less success on the mound as he has battled his mechanics and command. He has surrendered nine runs (five earned) in nine innings over his last two starts and sports an 0-1, 3.86 record and a 15-8 K-BB ratio in 14 innings overall.

Scouts are less concerned about his performance and more thrilled about his arm strength. His fastball has been clocked at 98 mph and his curveball has been devastating if inconsistent. The only thing that could keep him out of the first 10 picks would be concerns about his shoulder, though Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum pronounced him healthy in a letter he sent to all 30 clubs in April.

"Stuff-wise, he should go No. 2 in the draft," a National League scouting director said. "Your individual team doctor would have to give him a complete evaluation, but he has the total package."

BA rated Crow and Scheppers as the top two righthanders in the 2008 draft, but neither wound up signing. Negotiations broke down between Crow and the Nationals, who selected him ninth overall. Scheppers hurt his shoulder in April and wasn’t fully recovered by the signing deadline, so the Pirates passed on his asking price after taking him with the No. 49 pick.