Paul Toboni has been busy since he took over as President of Baseball Operations for the Nationals. He has cleaned house by firing many of the player development staff and also long-time coaches: bench coach and later interim Manager, Miguel Cairo, hitting coach Darnell Coles, pitching coach Jim Hickey, first-base coach Gerardo Parra, third-base coach Ricky Gutierrez, and bullpen coach Ricky Bones, will not return.
Most recently, however, Toboni made news by hiring Blake Butera to be the new manager of the team, making him the youngest MLB manager in 50 years. He is 33 years old. In 2018, the Rays made the 25-year-old Butera the youngest Minor League manager to lead the Class A Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades. Over 4 years, with two different teams in the minors, he amassed a 258-144 record.
Plans are to put some experienced coaches around Butera but one thing is certain: the process will be different, the voices will be a lot younger and some ideas will be different. This was needed and hopefully it works out.
The 2025 World Series was amazing. I hope you caught some of it. Many new records set and a nail-biter to the very end.
Spring training games start on February 20, 2026. Can’t get here soon enough for me!
#thenatslady #theswarm
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