The Washington Nationals officially named Michael Johns as the team’s bench coach. This was announced by manager Blake Butera this afternoon. With this hire, Johns, 50, becomes the first coach officially added to Butera’s staff. The pair has known each other from working together in the Tampa Bay Rays’ organization.
Most recently, Johns was the first base coach for the Tampa Bay Rays during the last two seasons (2024–25). Prior to that role, he managed Triple-A Durham in 2023, leading the club to an 88–62 record and an appearance in the International League Championship Series. He brings 17 years of pro coaching experience to Washington’s staff.
“Michael shares the same values that are important to me and to our organization,” said Butera. “He’s humble, has an incredible work ethic, and his preparation and attention to detail are unmatched. He played a major role in building Tampa Bay’s player development system and brings valuable recent Major League experience. More than anything, I know he’ll do everything he can to help our players, staff and organization succeed.”
During college at Tulane, Johns was teammates on the baseball team with a freshman named Andrew Friedman. While Friedman was injured, Johns was being scouted by MLB teams and eventually was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the 1997 draft. Of course years later, Friedman would become the GM and front office executive with the Tampa Bay Rays. By coincidence, Butera’s father played baseball at Tulane nearly 20 years before Johns and Friedman.
Before Johns’ stints as Tampa’s first base coach and their Triple-A manager, he was named Tampa Bay’s Minor League field coordinator for five seasons from 2018-2022. He was the manager of Tampa’s Single-A affiliate in Charlotte (2015–17), where he led that team to its only Florida State League championship in 2015. Prior to that, Johns managed Single-A Bowling Green (2014), Single-A Hudson Valley (2013) and Rookie-level Princeton (2010–12). Of course in 2008, it all started in pro ball for Johns as he joined Tampa’s coaching ranks with two seasons on Hudson Valley’s coaching staff.
“You definitely want to win. I think winning breeds winning. On the other hand you can’t sacrifice a player’s development to win. You don’t pinch hit for a prospect just to get the right match up and you don’t bring in a pitcher to get a better match up, you’re going to leave your guy out there to get his pitches in. This is really for their development, and it’s not for the glorification of the manager to get wins at all.”
— Johns said in 2015 about coaching minor league baseball
Prior to joining the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Johns went from being a minor league player in the Colorado Rockies system as a draftee in the 19th round to retiring after three years to pursue coaching. First, he was an assistant coach at Fernandina Beach High School in Florida where he grew up, and then he went on to take the job as head coach at Orange Park High School from 2004–07 and then took his first job with Rays.
“MJ was our field coordinator during my time with the Rays, and he did an outstanding job developing our minor league system into a powerhouse of talent. His structure and communication skills truly stood out, and I know he will excel in his new role as bench coach. He’s no stranger to what a winning team and culture looks like, and I have no doubt he will bring a great deal to offer.”
— A TalkNats exclusive from Tampa Bay Rays
World Series hero, Brett Phillips
on Nats bench coach Michael Johns
A middle infielder growing up, Johns spent two seasons (1997–98) as a player in the Rockies farm system before being released from Single-A as he was batting .192. The following season he played for the Allentown Ambassadors in the independent Northern League in 1999. After that, the 6’2″ infielder made the decision to move back home to suburban Jacksonville and take a job in coaching in his hometown.
Fast forward 26 years, and Johns will be full-time inside of the Nats’ dugout.
