Side by side, climbing the ladder to D.C.
Eli Willits and Gavin Fien, drafted 11 spots apart last summer, are thrilled to be minor-league teammates and hope to play together for the Nationals some day
When time allows, Blake Butera tries to sneak over to minor-league camp as often as possible and catch a glimpse of the Nationals’ future.
Butera, of course, comes from a player development background with the Rays, so he’s naturally drawn to the back fields and bullpens filled with 18-to-22-year-olds honi…
