During his introductory press conference, 33-year-old Blake Butera emphasized building a culture centered on character, relationships, and accountability.
WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals officially introduced 33-year-old Blake Butera as their new manager Monday at Nationals Park, making him the youngest skipper in Major League Baseball and one of the youngest in decades.
The press conference came more than two weeks after Butera signed his contract, delayed because his wife, Caroline, gave birth to their first child, Blair, on the same day he was hired. Butera was joined at the event by his wife, daughter and extended family members who traveled to Washington for the occasion.
Butera spent 11 years with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, most recently serving as senior director of player development. He also managed in Tampa Bay’s minor league system before moving into his front office role.
During his introductory press conference, Butera emphasized building a culture centered on character, relationships and accountability — principles he says he learned during his time with the Rays.
“As we move forward, our identity is gonna start with character,” Butera said. “I believe true leadership is built on real relationships. Relationships that create unity, clarity, and a shared purpose. And all that begins with accountability for myself, for our staff, for every player that wears this Nationals jersey.”
Butera’s age drew significant attention from reporters, with multiple questions addressing how the 33-year-old will handle managing players older than him, including potential future Hall of Famers. But Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Taboni dismissed age as a concern.
“It didn’t,” Taboni said when asked where the age conversation came up during the hiring process. “And I get from the outside how it could be a thing, but to me, I think about it similar to how I think about players, which is no one cares about a player’s age when they are out there in the box, they care about whether they are playing and producing. And I think about it the same way with Blake.”
Butera said his experience working with elite talent during his time with Tampa Bay and coaching at the World Baseball Classic has prepared him for the challenge. He also believes his age can be an asset in relating to younger players and understanding the grind of a 162-game season.
“There’s a lot of young talent in this clubhouse that I think are somewhat OK with the years they’ve had up to this point, but also feel like there’s another gear in there,” Butera said. “So our job is to make sure we help them reach their potential.”
The new manager promised fans a team that plays fundamentally sound baseball with intent every night, emphasizing the small details that separate good teams from great ones.
“We want our fans to feel connected to the way we play and to take pride in the identity that we show every night,” Butera said. “D.C. is an incredible sports city. It’s passionate, it’s knowledgeable, and they’re hungry for a winner. We’re in this together, and our commitment as a staff is to represent this city with pride.”
Butera praised the Nationals organization for values that align with his own, noting the organization’s commitment to putting people first. He shared that Taboni even traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, to interview him so he wouldn’t miss his daughter’s birth.
“That was just super special to us, the fact that he was able to put aside the traditional process of interviewing and wanted to make sure we put our family first,” Butera said.
Taboni said the organization prioritized finding someone whose character matched its organizational goals.
“When we set out to find our manager, our goal was to find not only a great, ambitious baseball mind but an even better person,” Taboni said. “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.”
Butera becomes the eighth manager in Washington Nationals history. The team has not made the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2019.
The Nationals are currently assembling Butera’s coaching staff, with the focus on finding people who align with the organization’s values rather than simply chasing experience. Butera said he’s excited about the young talent already in place and can’t wait for fans to see how special this team will be.