ATLANTA. This weekend, Major League Baseball (MLB) will witness a momentous occasion: Jen Pawol will make history by becoming the first woman to umpire a regular season game.
A Historic Milestone in Baseball
Pawol will be part of the umpiring team in the series between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves. Her main role will be as an umpire behind the plate in Sunday’s game, in addition to participating in Saturday’s doubleheader.
With a nine-year career in the minor leagues, Pawol has steadily and remarkably ascended in the professional umpiring system. Her arrival in Triple-A in 2023 was a milestone, being the first woman to reach that level in over three decades.
From Athlete to Pioneer
Before her career as a referee, Pawol excelled as a softball catcher at Hofstra University and competed for a decade in the Amateur Softball Association. Between 2013 and 2015, she refereed college games in the Big Ten Conference.
In 2016, Pawol attended the Minor League Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Florida, where he received his first assignment in the Gulf Coast League. Since then, he has accumulated significant achievements, including being crew chief in Triple-A in 2024 and participating in spring training games, highlighting his role as the home plate umpire in the Triple-A Championship last September.
“Personally, I love my job. I am passionate about it, it’s part of me,” expressed Pawol, reflecting her commitment to arbitration and her role as a pioneer in a field traditionally dominated by men.
