An undated picture of Washington Nationals new general manager Ani Kilambi. — MLB
WASHINGTON: The Washington Nationals have appointed 31-year-old Ani Kilambi as their new general manager, according to multiple media reports on Wednesday, signalling a bold move in the franchise’s leadership as they aim to shape the team’s future.
Kilambi spent four years with the Philadelphia Phillies as assistant GM, where he led the club’s research departments and oversaw the utilisation of data across the organisation.
This will be his first time as the Nationals’ third general manager since the franchise relocated from Montreal before the 2005 season.
Kilambi replaces Mike Rizzo, who served from 2009 until July, when he was dismissed as Washington was on course for its sixth consecutive losing season following their World Series triumph in 2019.
Rizzo had also been promoted to president of baseball operations in August 2013. Just seven days after Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired, the Nationals selected high school shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft in July.
Before joining the Phillies, Kilambi worked at the Tampa Bay Rays from 2015 to 2021, eventually being promoted to the role of director of decision science. He is part of a youthful management team in a restructured organisation.
Washington also appointed 35-year-old Paul Toboni as its new director of baseball operations in September, and Blake Butera, 33, as the new manager of the Nationals, making him the youngest manager in MLB history since 1972.