Leyva, Hired by Phillies, Becomes Baseball’s Youngest Manager at 35

Nick Leyva became baseball’s youngest manager and the youngest National League manager in 22 years Monday when he was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies to replace Lee Elia.

Leyva, 35, is the youngest to manage a National League team since Dave Bristol led the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 at age 33. He is Philadelphia’s youngest manager since Gene Mauch, who was 34 when he replaced Eddie Sawyer in 1960.

Bobby Valentine of the Texas Rangers and Tom Kelly of the Minnesota Twins are the youngest managers in the American League at 38. Leyva, the only person interviewed by General Manager Lee Thomas, received a 1-year contract.

“I don’t think age has anything to do with running a ballclub if you know the game,” said Leyva, the St. Louis Cardinals’ third base coach the last 5 seasons.

The Phillies finished the 1988 season 65-96, 35 1/2 games behind the New York Mets and in last place in the East.