*Jeff Roberson / AP*
Jen Pawol is set to make history as the first female MLB umpire, working this weekend’s series between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. Pawol will handle the bases during Saturday’s doubleheader at Truist Park and take the plate on Sunday, an MLB spokesperson confirmed.
The 48-year-old New Jersey native attended Hofstra University on a softball scholarship, earning three all-conference selections. She also played on the USA Baseball women’s national team in 2001. Pawol’s path to the majors included umpiring NCAA softball from 2010–2016 before attending an MLB umpire tryout in 2015. She trained at the Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Florida, and began her professional umpiring career in the Gulf Coast League in 2016.
A Career Marked by Dedication
“Once I started umpiring, I was like, ‘this is for me,’” Pawol said while working Florida’s Grapefruit League last year. “I can’t explain it. It’s just in my DNA.”
MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. praised Pawol’s achievement, calling it “a reflection of her hard work, dedication, and love of the game,” and noting the example she sets for women and young girls aspiring to on-field roles.
Breaking Barriers in Professional Sports
Pawol’s milestone follows other major officiating breakthroughs:
- NBA: Violet Palmer became the first woman referee in 1997.
- NFL: Sarah Thomas debuted as the first female on-field official in 2015.
- Men’s World Cup Soccer: Stéphanie Frappart officiated her first match in 2022.
- English Premier League: Rebecca Walsh refereed her first match in 2023.
The NHL has yet to feature a woman referee.
From Spring Training to the Big Leagues
In 2024, Pawol became the first woman to umpire MLB spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Cortesio spent nine seasons in the minors before her release that year.
Pawol has spent years in the minors, working her way through different leagues while refining her skills. MLB currently has 76 full-time staff umpires, with fill-ins like Pawol stepping in for injuries or vacations.
Content for this summary was derived from original reporting by CBS Sports
