TAMPA, Fla. — Age didn’t limit Blake Butera as he rose through the Rays minor league department, managing the first of four seasons at 25 — barely older than his players — and being named senior director of player development at 31.

Now 33, Butera is set to be hired as manager of the Washington Nationals — the youngest to lead a big league team in more than 50 years.

Butera was drafted by the Rays in 2015 after a four-year career at Boston College, played two seasons in the minors and then moved into coaching in 2017.

His first assignment in 2017 was bench coach for short-season Class A Hudson Valley, working under Craig Albernaz, the former Rays minor league player and manager who earlier this week was named manager of the Orioles.

“Blake is similar to Alby in a sense — great intangibles,” said Mitch Lukevics, the Rays longtime farm director and now senior advisor. “You’re always looking to your players who might have a future in player development or scouting. Someone that you would think could one day impact players with good character and work ethic.

“They had all the characteristics for a successful career in professional baseball. You just didn’t know what direction.”

Lukevics credited longtime staffers Bill Evers and Jim Hoff for helping develop Albernaz and Butera, among others. Plus, Butera’s father was a minor league player and high school coach.

In shifting Butera from player to coach, Lukevics said the idea was “to get a good guy in the system, let him learn the system, you had Jimmy and Billy to mentor, and good things come to good people. And that’s Blake Butera.

“Did I think it would be this fast? I’d be lying to say I would. He’s very, very, very capable. There’s a good pedigree. And he’s extremely intelligent.”

Butera managed Hudson Valley in 2018 and 2019, then moved up to full-season Class A Charleston (S.C.) and won back-to-back league championships in 2021-22. He spent 2023 as a field coordinator and the last two in the senior director role, overseeing the Rays’ full player development process.

He also served as bench coach for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

In Washington, Butera will continue a Rays-related connection, as he replaces interim manager Miguel Cairo. The ex-Ray was promoted when Dave Martinez, another former Rays player, was fired in July.

Butera will be the youngest big league manager since Frank Quilici led the Twins in 1972 at 33 years, 27 days old.

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