WASHINGTON – Blake Butera sat at the dais in the press conference room at Nationals Park on Monday, looking out at the first two rows of seats filled by family. His relatives were there, his wife’s relatives were there, and -- snuggled up in a tiny Nationals jersey -- so was his newborn daughter.
On the day Butera became a Major League manager, he stepped into an even bigger role: a father.
“I got offered the job before [her birth], signed the contract after,” Butera recalled of the hectic order of events. “So, dad first.”
Butera and his wife, Caroline Margolis, welcomed Blair Margaux Butera on Oct. 30. Mere weeks later, with an assist from his in-laws, the family traveled from Raleigh, N.C., to Washington, D.C., for Butera to be introduced as the manager of the Nationals.
“I can't really put it into words,” Butera said. “We debated whether or not to bring Blair to the press conference. I mean, she's 2 weeks old and the immune system's not the strongest right now. My wife was adamant. She's like, 'She's got to be there, she's got to be there.' Just the fact that [my wife’s] parents were able to drive her up and back just to get her here to be here -- she’s not going to remember any of it, but at least we’ll have the pictures to show her one day.”
Butera, 33, experienced some of the biggest moments of his lifetime in a condensed action-packed period of time. He became the youngest manager in the Major Leagues since Frank Quilici managed the Twins in 1972 at 33 years, 27 days old.
“The best advice I’ve gotten is just to be yourself,” Butera said. “At the end of the day, when you talk with players and you work with players, I think the last thing they look at is how old or young somebody might be. I think what’s most important to them is, do you care about them as a person first and are you going to do everything you can to help them become the best version of themself, both on and off the field? I think people can accomplish that in different ages and different experiences.”
Butera most recently held the role of Tampa Bay’s senior director of player development, which he was promoted to in October 2023. He served as the Rays' farm director and oversaw the entire player development process.
Butera joined the Nationals following a decade playing and working in the Rays organization. A 35th-round Draft pick of Tampa Bay out of Boston College, Butera played parts of two seasons in the Rays' farm system before joining their affiliate coaching ranks.
In 2018 at age 25, he was hired by Class A Short-Season Hudson Valley as the youngest manager in Minor League Baseball. Butera went on to be named the 2021 and ‘22 Carolina League Manager of the Year while leading Single-A Charleston.
“I think when you get into coaching and you get into this industry, a Major League manager -- if you’re a field staff member -- is the ultimate goal you want to get to,” Butera said. “I understand it’s a big responsibility and there’s a lot on your plate. But at the end of the day, it’s something you feel like you work toward your entire career.
“Are you ever going to be, 'ready for something?' I don’t know. But I feel pretty prepared based off a lot of previous experiences and a variety of different backgrounds where I’m ready for this opportunity.”
Butera is the eighth manager in Nationals team history (2005-present). He is the first managerial hire since Dave Martinez in October 2017. Martinez was fired in July alongside general manager Mike Rizzo.
Butera has named Michael Johns bench coach and Simon Mathews pitching coach. Sean Doolittle also will return to the coaching staff with a specific title to be determined.
“When we set out to find our manager, our goal was to find not only a great, ambitious mind, but an even better person,” said president of baseball operations Paul Toboni.
“We wanted someone whose character and values aligned with ours, and whose experiences fit our organizational goals. … I’m a strong believer that you win with people, and Blake’s character and ability to connect with everyone across the baseball spectrum is second to none.”
On Monday afternoon at Nationals Park, Butera juggled handshakes, press conferences and photo opportunities as a Major League manager with being a dad soaking up an extraordinary moment with his family.
“I want her to know that she was first, she was the most important part of that day,” Butera said of his daughter. “My wife, it was her first time going through it, it was a long labor. Just the fact that she’s talking to me about this job opportunity while she was laying in the hospital bed … it was just a whirlwind of a day.
“But that’s who they are. That’s who my wife is, that’s who I’m sure Blair is going to be -- we care about each other before anything else.”