The Nationals have identified their next manager.
The Nats on Friday named 33-year-old Blake Butera to fill the managerial vacancy. He is the eighth manager in team history (2005-present).
Butera, who was born Aug. 7, 1992, became the youngest manager in the Major Leagues since Frank Quilici managed the Twins at 33 years, 27 days old in 1972.
This is the first major move for president of baseball operations Paul Toboni since he was hired on Oct. 1.
“I’ve always believed that you win with people, and from our very first conversation, it was clear that Blake is the right person and the right leader for this role,” said Toboni in a statement. “Blake comes into this position with experience in a variety of roles in player development, including as a successful manager, making him uniquely qualified to get the most out of the players in the clubhouse and help us reach the next level.
"He possesses a strong baseball acumen and has a reputation for building strong relationships with players and staff, making him a great fit for us in Washington, D.C. We’re so excited to welcome him to the Nationals family.”
Butera comes from the Rays organization, where he was promoted to senior director of player development in October 2023. In that role, he served as Tampa Bay’s farm director and was in charge of its entire player development process.
Prior to that, Butera spent one year as an assistant field coordinator for the Rays, one year as a Minor League coach and four seasons as a Minor League manager with Single-A Charleston and Class A Short-Season Hudson Valley.
In 2018, he became the youngest manager in Minor League Baseball when he was hired by Hudson Valley at age 25. He went on to be named the 2021 and ‘22 Carolina League Manager of the Year, winning championships both seasons. As manager, his teams were 258-144.
“I am incredibly honored to be named the manager of the Washington Nationals,” said Butera in a statement. “I’d like to thank the Lerner, Cohen and Tanenbaum families, as well as Paul Toboni, for the opportunity and for the trust they are placing in me. This franchise has a proud history, a passionate fanbase and a standard of excellence that I deeply respect. My family and I are fortunate to be part of it. I’m excited to get to work alongside our players, coaches and staff to build something special -- a team that is rooted in trust, connection and competitiveness. We want to represent this city and our fans in a way they can be proud of, and we’re ready to get started.”
Butera was selected out of Boston College by Tampa Bay in the 35th round of the 2015 MLB Draft in a Rays class that included Brandon Lowe and Jake Cronenworth, and he played parts of two seasons as an infielder in its farm system.
“I think it's one variable to consider, but it's definitely not everything,” Toboni said earlier this month of candidates needing to have Major League managerial experience. “There have been plenty of managers or head coaches across sports that have had success in their first time in the job. There have also been managers and head coaches across sports that have failed the first time, and then they get a second chance and they do really well. So it’s something to consider; by no means is it the end-all.”
Butera, a native of Madisonville, La., holds a degree in communications from Boston College. His father Barry was a 14th-round Draft pick by the Red Sox in 1977. Butera’s brother, also named Barry, was selected by the Astros in the 21st round of the 2009 Draft. Butera and his wife, Caroline Margolis, welcomed their first child, Blair Margaux Butera, on Thursday -- the same day news broke of his hiring.
“My guy!!!” newly hired Orioles manager Craig Albernaz posted on X that day. “Elite human, friend, husband and teacher. I hope the rest of the league is ready for this impact. I’m proud of you brother.”
Butera was a bench coach for Team Italy that reached the quarterfinals in the 2023 World Baseball Classic under manager Mike Piazza. Butera’s international experience also includes coaching the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League (‘19) and Leones del Escogido in the Dominican League (‘20).
“I think it’s a great hire and I’m so happy for him,” Piazza told MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. “He is [a] very loyal, diligent, efficient and dedicated baseball man. He commands respect with his knowledge and demeanor. He will always strive to put his players in a position to succeed. It was a pleasure to work with him.”
The Nationals had their first managerial vacancy since 2017 after dismissing Dave Martinez in July and parting ways with interim skipper Miguel Cairo after the season. Butera will lead a young Nats team that is looking for its first winning year since the 2019 World Series.
Washington went 66-96 in 2025 and finished fifth in the National League East for the fifth time in the past six seasons. The Nats ranked third-to-last in run production in the NL (687 runs scored), and the pitching staff recorded the second-highest ERA among all MLB teams (5.35 ERA).
The Nationals had the second-youngest average age for hitters and the second-youngest average age for pitchers among all MLB teams in 2025. Butera and his to-be-determined staff will look to continue to grow and maximize the talents of a developing group that includes Daylen Lile (22), Brady House (22), James Wood (23), Dylan Crews (23), CJ Abrams (25), Jose A. Ferrer (25) and MacKenzie Gore (26). Of the players on the 40-man roster under contract with the Nationals next season, only Trevor Williams (born April 25, 1992) is older than Butera.