The Washington Nationals found their new leader after officially naming Blake Butera their manager and becoming the eighth manager in franchise history. Buetera, 33, became the youngest manager in 53 years when Frank Quilici became the manager of the Minnesota Twins at 33 years, 27 days old. 

It is a new era in the nation’s capital. Butera is taking over the managerial duties from manager and 2019 World Series champion Dave Martinez, who became the manager in 2017, and from newly hired President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni, who replaced longtime Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. Martinez and Rizzo were both fired together in July 2025, following their sixth straight losing season since their 2019 World Series Championship. 

October 30, 2025, was not just the day Butera got a call from Toboni; it was also the day his first child was born. At Butera’s introductory press conference at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. said, “I want her to know that she was first. She was the most important part of the day.” Butera acknowledged that he was not sure his two-week-old newborn would be included in the introductory press conference. Still, his wife, Caroline, felt it was too crucial for the entire family not to be in attendance.

Blake Butera was selected in the 35th round of the MLB draft out of Boston College by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015. His playing career was a short stint, and he took an opportunity in 2018 to become manager at age 25 for Class-A Short Season, Hudson Valley, and was named Carolina League manager of the year in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Butera took the opportunity to become the Tampa Bay Rays’ senior director of player development. Butera had proven he had a baseball mind, which ultimately led to his becoming a big league manager. 

Many well-known baseball managers and greats have had nothing but positive things to say about Butera as a person and coach. Baseball great Mike Piazza said in an MLB Network interview with Jon Morosi, “I think it’s a great hire and I’m happy for him. He is very loyal, diligent, efficient, and a dedicated baseball man.” 

It is a new era for Nationals baseball as the winning culture will look to make its anticipated return to the Nationals organization.