Washington Nationals Hire 33-Year-Old as New Manager

Report: Nationals to Hire Blake Butera as New Manager

This marks the second unexpected managerial hire this cycle, following the San Francisco Giants’ decision to go off the traditional path by bringing on University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as their new skipper. Teams choosing leaders they truly believe in sends a powerful message — it shows players the front office believes in its vision and its people.

Butera earned widespread respect as a minor league manager in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, guiding his clubs to a combined 258-144 record over four seasons.

Butera was born on August 7, 1992, in Metairie, Louisiana. He entered pro ball when the Rays drafted him in the 35th round in 2015 out of Boston College. After spending parts of two seasons as a minor league infielder, he shifted into coaching and managing. He joined the Rays’ system as a coach in 2017. He then became the organization’s Senior Director of Player Development by 2023. Butera, 33, will become the youngest MLB manager since Frank Quilici, who took over the Minnesota Twins in 1972 at the same age. Coincidentally, the Twins also filled their managerial vacancy this week, hiring former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who formerly served as a coach for Minnesota.

His rapid rise through the developmental ranks showed how much faith the Rays placed in him to shape young talent. Now, the Nationals are counting on that expertise to translate to the major-league stage.