Round 20: Josh Laxer, RHP, Madison Central HS (Mississippi)

(from My601)

Baseball-Reference

One sentence analysis: The hard-throwing high schooler has already started summer classes at Ole Miss, so the Nats may have missed their chance to sign him.

More analysis and notes:
First of all, please read my interview with Josh here.

It's interesting to see that Laxer has the figure he's willing to sign for prepared (and public): $900k. In a draft that features some expensive players at the top but a ton of college seniors that will sign around or under slot in the top 10 rounds, the Nationals can likely afford to pay Laxer.

Nats.com roundup: "Another Ole Miss commit, Laxer throws a 95 mph fastball. He struck out 110 batters and walked 19 in 68 innings this season."
From Baseball America, 6/7/2011: "In many years, Mississippi signee Josh Laxer would have been the top prep pitcher in the state. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he pounds the strike zone with quality stuff, touching the low 90s and sitting around 88-89 mph with a fastball that has good armside life and sink at times. He spots his slurvy breaking ball well and knows how to pitch. His lack of physicality may make college ball a better fit."
From Josh Dellenger, The Clairon-Ledger, 6/4/2011: "As the Jaguars' ace, the Ole Miss signee drew dozens of scouts with his 95-mph fastball, a nasty slider and unique change-up - the last one he swiped from his older brother. For Laxer to bypass a college career at Ole Miss, the money must be right. In fact, he has a figure in mind: 'Anywhere around' $900,000, he said. It's an amount he and his family agreed upon."
From Travis Recek, My601, 3/25/2011: "Josh is a hard-throwing righty with solid mechanics at this stage in his development. His fastball can sit in the low 90's and when he avoids walks, he can be pretty unhittable at the high school level. Scouts have their eye on him as a potential draft pick based on his velocity and his make-up as a player. He's not going to wow you with his height, but his overall build is pretty solid for a kid his age."
From Team One Baseball, 6/28/2010: "Laxer is a strong, thin, wiry athlete that currently projects better on the hill than in the INF. Josh throws a fastball ranging from 86 to 90 MPH that has A/S run. He is an aggressive Pitcher with a live / loose arm and an on-time delivery. He has quality off-speed pitches, he changes speeds very well, and can pitch to both sides of the plate. Laxer has excellent mound presence and is a legitimate prospect. In the INF, Josh has soft hands and good lateral movements. He has a good idea, he can throw from different arm slots, and he makes things look easy. Offensively, Laxer is an aggressive hitter with good strength and pop in his bat. He centers the ball well on the barrel and with better use of his lower 1/2 strong offensive numbers can become even better." Note-this is from last summer, so apparently his fastball velocity increased by 5 MPH in that span.

Follow @joshlaxer on Twitter.

Laxer has not signed with the Nats.