Jen Pawol shatters the MLB's historical milestone, becoming the league's inaugural female umpire to officiate a regular-season match.
Jen Pawol Makes History as First Female Umpire in Major League Baseball
Jen Pawol made history on August 9, 2025, as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in Major League Baseball (MLB). She called balls and strikes during the series finale at Truist Park, marking a significant milestone in baseball history [1][2][5].
Background
Born and raised in West Milford, New Jersey, Pawol played soccer and softball during her youth. She attended Hofstra University on an athletic scholarship, where she played Division I softball as a catcher. Pawol began umpiring softball games during college, earning $15 per game. In 2001, she was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team in the Women's Baseball World Series, the first recognized international women’s baseball tournament [2]. Before her professional umpiring career, she was an art teacher with degrees from Pratt Institute (B.F.A.) and Hunter College (M.F.A.) [2].
Career Path
Pawol started her professional umpiring career in the Rookie league in 2016 and steadily progressed through the minor leagues. She reached Triple-A in 2023, becoming the first female umpire at that level in 34 years, and even served as its crew chief in 2024. She umpired in Spring Training in 2024 and 2025 before being promoted to MLB in August 2025 [1][2]. She wears uniform number 95 as an MLB umpire [2].
Challenges
Pawol's career path reflects persistence in a male-dominated field. She describes her approach as focusing on working hard and improving every day. The journey to this historic MLB debut took nearly a decade, highlighting the challenges female umpires face breaking through traditionally male roles. Pawol’s accuracy in calling balls and strikes was measured at 92.72% in her first home-plate game, slightly below the MLB average but still earning praise from players and coaches [3][5].
Impact
Pawol’s MLB debut is a significant milestone in baseball history, reflecting both personal achievement and broader progress for women in sports officiating. Commissioner Rob Manfred praised her dedication and role-model example for women and girls aspiring to baseball careers on the field. She is only the seventh woman to work as a professional baseball umpire overall and has set a precedent for inclusion at the highest level in baseball [1][2].
Pawol's debut was a smooth one, with fans giving her a warm ovation when the video board focused on her between innings. Her first real test came in the third inning of the game, when she called Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play. Despite the pressure, Pawol handled the situation with confidence, setting an example for future female umpires [4].
Pawol's rise to make MLB history came 28 years after the NBA gender barrier for game officials was broken, 10 years after the NFL hired its first full-time female official, and 3 years after the men's soccer World Cup first hired a female referee [2]. Her achievement further demonstrates the progress being made in breaking gender barriers across sports.
In summary, Jen Pawol’s historic role as MLB’s first female umpire represents a breakthrough built on years of perseverance, skill, and trailblazing in professional baseball umpiring, inspiring change and greater diversity in the sport.
[1] https://www.mlb.com/news/jen-pawol-to-be-first-female-umpire-in-mlb-history-during-weekend-doubleheader/c-344697320 [2] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34469386/jen-pawol-first-female-umpire-major-league-baseball [3] https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jen-pawol-to-make-mlb-history-as-first-female-umpire-in-regular-season-game/ [4] https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/jen-pawol-first-female-umpire-mlb-debut-atlanta-braves-miami-marlins-game/1892729 [5] https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/jen-pawol-first-female-umpire-mlb-history-worked-red-sox-game-tuesday-night
- The historic debut of Jen Pawol in the Major League Baseball (MLB) environment, marking a significant milestone in the sports and media landscape of Toronto and beyond.
- In the wake of her groundbreaking achievement, Jen Pawol's call for a more diverse and inclusive media representation of female umpires in the environment of baseball and sports journalism is now gaining traction.
- With her rise to prominence, other female umpires look to Jen Pawol as a role model in navigating the challenges of the environment, hoping to follow her path and make their own history in the world of sports and the environment.
