WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Blake Butera will never forget the day he accepted the job as the manager of the . That’s because it was the very same day that his wife, Caroline, gave birth to their first child, daughter Blair.
鈥淚t was a long labor, and just the fact that she鈥檚 talking to me about this job opportunity while she鈥檚 laying in the hospital bed 鈥� I was like, 鈥楩ocus on Blair, right?鈥�” Butera said Monday during his introductory news conference at Nationals Park, 2 1/2 weeks after that big day. 鈥淚t was just a whirlwind.鈥�
Butera, 33, sat beside new , 35. They replaced skipper Dave Martinez and president and general manager Mike Rizzo, who are both in their 60s and with the Nationals mired in their sixth consecutive losing season since winning .
鈥淥ne of the things I thought about most is this isn鈥檛 just about (me) or the Nationals organization picking Blake,鈥� Toboni said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like (we) want Blake to feel really good about the decision that鈥檚 he鈥檚 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.鈥�
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’ senior director of player development in 2023, the post he left to join Toboni in Washington.
Butera said a recommendation from Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza got Toboni鈥檚 attention.
Butera worked as the bench coach when Piazza managed Italy during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. But Piazza gave Butera additional duties.
鈥淗e basically told me he鈥檚 there to do all the media and give the speeches,鈥� Butera said. 鈥淚n terms of in-game management, he鈥檚 like, 鈥榊ou handle that,鈥� 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 鈥楬ey, all you.鈥� It was something that was pretty special.鈥�
Butera also said he was assured by Terry Francona 鈥� a two-time World Series champion and three-time AL Manager of the Year 鈥� that he could be successful in his first big league gig.
鈥淭erry Francona reached out and (said), 鈥楾his 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鈥�,鈥� Butera recalled. 鈥淪o he was like, 鈥楯ust be yourself. Be who you are. Don鈥檛 fake it. There鈥檚 a reason why they鈥檙e continuing to talk to you.鈥欌��
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.
Notes: Toboni said , a member of the 2019 championship club who was a pitching strategist on Martinez’s staff, will stay on in a coaching position. The exact title is to be determined. Toboni said Doolittle and new Nationals pitching coach Simon Mathews know each other.
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