In a historic milestone for baseball, Jen Pawol demonstrated her skill in the game between the Marlins and the Braves, marking a before and after. Pawol became the first woman in history to serve as the home plate umpire in a Major League game, and her impeccable performance proved that she was more than ready for the challenge.
On Saturday, Pawol had already made history by being the first woman to umpire a regular season game in the majors, acting as a base umpire in a doubleheader before taking control behind the plate on Sunday, which put her in the spotlight. Despite the pressure, Pawol remained calm and composed, handling each decision with precision. Braves pitcher Joey Wentz praised his work, although he preferred not to focus on the umpire’s decisions. During the game, there were few opportunities to question his decisions, as Wentz and Cal Quantrill, the starting pitcher for Miami, combined for only three strikeouts. The first called strike came in the fifth inning, when Pawol celebrated with a fist pump after striking out Miami’s Kyle Stowers. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough was seen questioning the decision, although he clarified that it is common to seek clarity on close plays. At 48 years old, Pawol was called as a traveling umpire, and her next assignment has not yet been announced.I think Jen did a really good job. I think she’s very calm out there. She handled and managed the game really well. And a great day for her. A great day for MLB. I congratulated her again for that because it’s quite an achievement.
Clayton McCullough, Marlins Manager
Brian Snitker, Braves manager, also praised Pawol, highlighting his knowledge of the game. Pawol began his career in the minor leagues in 2016 and worked in the Triple-A championship game in 2023, as well as participating in spring training games in 2024 and this year. Cal Quantrill acknowledged Pawol’s preparation and the importance of treating these situations as normal in baseball.I wish you the best as you move forward and continue, I’m sure, hopefully someday you’ll be full-time, you know, a permanent major league umpire.
Clayton McCullough, Marlins Manager
Pawol expressed his gratitude and emotion on Saturday, describing how his dream came true. During both days, Pawol received the support and applause of the fans, who displayed banners of support.We certainly don’t call it from A, do we? So yes, I’m sure she was well prepared. And as I said, I think, you know, part of the game moving forward is that if this is normal, then we’ll treat it as normal too. So, you know, I thought it was fine. I think she did a quality job. … And yes, I think she would be very proud of herself. And, you know, it’s a cool little thing to be a part of.
Cal Quantrill, Marlins Pitcher
