Why Paul Toboni Believes Blake Butera Is the Ideal Manager to Lead the Washington Nationals’ Future

Paul Toboni, President of Baseball Operations for the Washington Nationals, reflected on the organization’s bold decision to hire Blake Butera as their new manager, and his words shed light on why this move could be transformative for the franchise. “It starts with the person that Blake Butera is,” Toboni said. “I think he just very much aligns with the values that we hold sacred as an organization.” Toboni emphasized that Butera’s leadership qualities were evident from the start: “Blake Butera’s leadership skills really jumped out to us from the get-go.”

Toboni explained that Butera’s background is quite unique for a major league manager. “He’s coming from the front office, overseeing player development. That hasn’t happened very frequently throughout baseball.” While Butera’s experience doesn’t include managing at the Major League level, his success as a minor league manager and his various roles within the Tampa Bay Rays organization made him an especially appealing candidate. “Just the more we thought about it, the more we figured it was a great fit,” Toboni stated.

The risk associated with hiring a relatively inexperienced manager is well-known, but Toboni expressed full confidence in Butera. “With every new manager, you just don’t know until they’re given the opportunity how they’re going to respond to the challenge,” he said. “Having said that, I feel very good about betting on Blake Butera.” Toboni believes that Butera’s personality and leadership style will serve him well. “He’s a very thoughtful and motivated individual that I think will just continue to get better as time goes on.”

Toboni also shared that he and Butera had never met before the hiring process, despite mutual connections within baseball. “I scouted him when he was at Boston College,” Toboni revealed, “and I’m really fortunate we did reach out to interview him because he blew me away throughout the process.”

In talking about what it takes to succeed as a major league manager, Toboni emphasized consistency and culture. “What you’re looking for…is someone that can do a really good job creating a winning culture in the clubhouse,” he said. “The manager sets the tone of accountability with staff members and players. That was true 10 years ago, just as it is today.”

Toboni described how he and Butera are working closely together to shape the coaching staff for 2026. “That’ll be Blake Butera and I primarily tackling it together. We’re incredibly aligned about how we think through this.” The process of building this team is ongoing, and Toboni recognizes the importance of but also trusts Butera’s ability to select coaches who complement his strengths.

The role of a head coach or manager is demanding, especially for a younger, untested candidate. Toboni acknowledged this challenge but expressed strong belief in Butera’s potential. “He has an uncanny ability to relate to people, whether it's the veteran coach or the first-year analyst,” Toboni noted. “He’s not afraid to hold folks accountable, which is a huge part of the job.”

Looking ahead, Toboni made it clear that this hire is about more than immediate success—it's about long-term growth. “We wanted someone that can do as good a job as possible in year one but also… leading us the way this organization needs to be led,” he said. “It’s about building a foundation for sustained success.”

On game day, Toboni said the front office will empower Butera fully. “We provide Blake Butera with all the information he needs,” he explained. “When the game starts, it’s like, ‘Blake Butera, you go get ’em.’ We trust him to make the decisions that will shape our season.”

Throughout the process, Butera’s pitch and personality made a strong impression. Toboni painted a picture of the new manager: “He’s incredibly open-minded, really even-keeled. He has a natural ability to connect with people from all backgrounds.” Toboni even expressed personal confidence that Butera would become a close friend, noting how easy he is to talk to and how well he embodies the organization’s values.