A Female Individual Poised to Create Baseball History, Yet Unaffiliated with Any Professional Team
Jen Pawol, a veteran umpire with a passion for the sport, is set to make history as the first woman to officiate a regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) game. The groundbreaking event will take place during the weekend of August 9-11, 2025, in Atlanta, as Pawol umpires the Marlins-Braves series.
Pawol's journey in baseball began with her playing softball at Hofstra University and participating in the Amateur Softball Association at the Major Fast Pitch level. However, her career took a different turn when she found inspiration in the sport itself and decided to pursue umpiring.
In 2024, Pawol expressed that she wasn't satisfied with her post-athletic career and decided to pursue umpiring after watching an umpire during a game. This decision led her to attend the MLB umpire training camp, where she honed her skills and landed a job in the minor leagues.
Pawol spent several years in the minor leagues, including stints in the Gulf Coast League in Florida and the South. Her hard work and dedication paid off in 2023 when she achieved Triple-A status, making her the first female umpire to reach this level in more than three decades.
Pawol's debut in the MLB marks a significant step forward for women in sports. The Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA) congratulated Pawol on her major league debut and expressed hope that her stint would create more opportunities for women in umpiring.
Jen Pawol's historic debut will be the first time a woman has graced the field in an official MLB umpire capacity. She will umpire three games: at first base in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader, at third base in the nightcap, and behind home plate in the series finale on Sunday at Truist Park.
Pawol's passion for umpiring is evident, as she stated in 2016 that it is part of who she is. She also finds inspiration in the sport, as it is her life's biggest inspiration.
The sports world has long recognised the talents of women in officiating roles. The NFL, NBA, and World Cup soccer have all had female referees for years. Violet Palmer, for instance, officiated a 1997 game between the Vancouver Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks, marking the first time a woman refereed in the NBA.
Ilona Maher, a USA Olympic Athlete, has given a tribute to radical femininity on the rugby pitch. Pawol's historic debut in the MLB is another testament to the growing presence of women in sports officiating roles.
Ria Cortesio spent most of her career in the minor leagues until it ended in 2007. Jen Pawol's journey, however, continues, and she is poised to make history as the first woman to umpire in a regular-season MLB game.
[1] MLB.com [2] ESPN.com [3] CBS Sports [4] USA Today
Love and mental health are crucial factors in Jen Pawol's dedication to her career as a baseball umpire. As she navigated her post-athletic career, feeling unsatisfied, Pawol found her passion when watching an umpire during a game. This moment sparked a change in her life, leading her to the MLB umpire training camp and eventually, umpiring in the minor leagues. Her journey, filled with hard work and perseverance, was fueled by her love for the sport and her desire to break barriers, proving that mental strength plays a significant role in her success.
