""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, who's already spent four years as a minor league skipper, will be the youngest manager since Frank Quilici in 1972. It's been a theme for the former Rays farmhand. After a couple of seasons as an infielder in the low minors, he moved to the coaching side, taking over as skipper of High-A Hudson Valley in 2018. At 25 years old, Butera was the youngest manager in organized baseball that season, per Baseball Reference."
Blake Butera, 33, was hired as the Washington Nationals' manager after two seasons as the Tampa Bay Rays' senior director of player development. He joins Paul Toboni, 35, who became the Nationals' president of baseball operations, creating the youngest managerial and front-office leadership duo in MLB. Butera spent four years as a minor-league skipper, won a Low-A East Manager of the Year after leading Single-A Charleston to a league title in 2021, and served in Tampa Bay's minor-league coordination roles. He also coached internationally with the Perth Heat and worked as a quality control coach with Leones del Escogido.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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