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<\/p>\nWASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Blake Butera will never forget the day he accepted the job as the manager of the Washington\u2026<\/p>\n
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Nationals Butera Baseball New Washington Nationals Manager Blake Butera, left, and president of baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, right, pose at a baseball press conference Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass) <\/p>\n
\n AP Photo\/Nick Wass <\/p>\n
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Nationals Butera Baseball Washington Nationals president of baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, right, speaks next to new Manager Blake Butera, left, at a baseball press conference Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass) <\/p>\n
\n AP Photo\/Nick Wass <\/p>\n
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Nationals Butera Baseball New Washington Nationals Manager Blake Butera, left, shakes hands with president of baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, right, at a baseball press conference Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass) <\/p>\n
\n AP Photo\/Nick Wass <\/p>\n
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Nationals Butera Baseball New Washington Nationals Manager Blake Butera speaks during a baseball press conference Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass) <\/p>\n
\n AP Photo\/Nick Wass <\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Blake Butera will never forget the day he accepted the job as the manager of the Washington Nationals<\/a>. That\u2019s because it was the very same day that his wife, Caroline, gave birth to their first child, daughter Blair.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a long labor, and just the fact that she\u2019s talking to me about this job opportunity while she\u2019s laying in the hospital bed \u2014 I was like, \u2018Focus on Blair, right?\u2019\u201d Butera said Monday during his introductory news conference at Nationals Park, 2 1\/2 weeks after that big day. \u201cIt was just a whirlwind.\u201d<\/p>\n Butera, 33, sat beside new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni<\/a>, 35. They replaced skipper Dave Martinez and president and general manager Mike Rizzo, who are both in their 60s and were fired in July<\/a> with the Nationals mired in their sixth consecutive losing season since winning the 2019 World Series<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things I thought about most is this isn\u2019t just about (me) or the Nationals organization picking Blake,\u201d Toboni said. \u201cIt\u2019s like (we) want Blake to feel really good about the decision that\u2019s he\u2019s making, hopping into the Nationals organization. It was really great to get to know Blake further as the person, as opposed to just the baseball mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Butera not only has no major league game experience, his only previous stints as a manager in the low minors with the Tampa Bay Rays, getting his first job in that role at age 25. He became the Rays\u2019 senior director of player development in 2023, the post he left to join Toboni in Washington.<\/p>\n Butera said a recommendation from Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza got Toboni\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n Butera worked as the bench coach when Piazza managed Italy during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. But Piazza gave Butera additional duties.<\/p>\n \u201cHe basically told me he\u2019s there to do all the media and give the speeches,\u201d Butera said. \u201cIn terms of in-game management, he\u2019s like, \u2018You handle that,\u2019 which is a pretty cool opportunity. Someone with his background, and on that stage, just to put his ego aside to this young kid and be like \u2018Hey, all you.\u2019 It was something that was pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n Butera also said he was assured by Terry Francona \u2014 a two-time World Series champion and three-time AL Manager of the Year \u2014 that he could be successful in his first big league gig.<\/p>\n \u201cTerry Francona reached out and (said), \u2018This reminds me a lot of when I interviewed for my first managing job with the Phillies, when I did not think it was going to happen\u2019,\u201d Butera recalled. \u201cSo he was like, \u2018Just be yourself. Be who you are. Don\u2019t fake it. There\u2019s a reason why they\u2019re continuing to talk to you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Butera said he contacted at least 20 current Nationals players and has been impressed by their urgency to get better on the field. He said his goal is to field a fundamentally sound team built on character and accountability.<\/p>\n