Swimming Upstream: J.J. Cooper Explains Rule 5 Draft, State of Marlins Farm System

Baseball America editor-in-chief J.J. Cooper helps Alex Carver, Kevin Barral and Ely Sussman make sense of what happened during this week's MLB Rule 5 Draft. We also go through the Marlins' recent track record in the amateur draft, what to expect from player development under the leadership of Peter Bendix and much more.

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With the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft, Marlins infielder Nasim Nuñez was selected by the Washington Nationals.

Interestingly, reigning Marlins Minor League Player of the Year Troy Johnston did not get selected. Here's what Cooper had to say about that:

"As good as his season was, he sometimes will chase out of the zone, and I do think that is a concern when you say, 'How well is this gonna translate?'

"We're drafting a first baseman in the Rule 5 Draft. You're gonna want a guy who can really control the zone pretty well, who from day one is kinda hitting. Not that Johnston doesn't have a lot of attributes that kinda indicate maybe he can, but you have this one concern here...that might right there have had another list of teams say, 'Nope, we're just not interested because he'll expand a little bit outside the zone sometimes.'

"First base is just not a position that always gets taken...You're pretty much only taking that guy if he's going to not only stick, but get regular at-bats."

Baseball America subscribers can read scouting reports for every pick from the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft here.

Follow J.J. (@jjcoop36), Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral), Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com.

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Image courtesy of Washington Nationals

Interested in learning more about the Miami Marlins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!