Jen Pawol's major league baseball (MLB) debut wasn't a publicity gimmick; she deserved it through sheer hard work.

Jen Pawol's major league baseball (MLB) debut wasn't a publicity gimmick; she deserved it through sheer hard work.

Jen Pawol has made history as the first female umpire to work a regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) game. This milestone comes after a decade of hard work and dedication in the minor leagues.

Pawol's journey began three decades ago in high school, where a friend's invitation led her to pick up an umpire's mask. After attending the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy, she started umpiring in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2016.

Over the next ten seasons, Pawol worked her way methodically through the minors, including the New York/Penn League, the Midwest League, the South Atlantic League, Double-A, and finally Triple-A in 2023. This made her the first woman to umpire in Triple-A in 34 years and the first to work its championship game.

Pawol's call-up to Major League Baseball comes after she was placed on the MLB call-up list in 2024. On Wednesday, she received the news that she will be working the game, which is Game 1 of the Atlanta Braves-Miami Marlins doubleheader, and she will handle the bases. On Sunday, she will move behind the plate for the series finale.

Pawol's historic debut is a testament to her resilience and talent. She isn't in Major League Baseball as a token gesture or a puffy PR move, but because she outlasted the challenges of minor league life. Her journey stands as a reminder that grit still matters in an era where headlines often favor symbolism over merit.

About 30 family members and friends will be in the stands to witness this historic moment. Our website will be on the ground at Truist Park to cover Jen Pawol's first three MLB games.

Pawol told the Associated Press that she felt "super emotional" and "full" after receiving the news. Her fellow minor-league umpires, including Christine Wren, Pam Postema, and Ria Cortesio, have already reached out with congratulations.

Pawol's call-up to Major League Baseball makes her the third female official in the "Big Four" men's professional sports leagues to debut. Violet Palmer was the first female official to debut in the NBA in 1997, followed by Sarah Thomas in the NFL in 2015. The NHL is the only major league yet to feature a female official.

Sarah Thomas, who worked Super Bowl LV between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, serves as an inspiration for Pawol. As Pawol steps onto the field for her first MLB game, she carries with her the hopes and dreams of countless young girls who aspire to follow in her footsteps.

Jen Pawol's historic first MLB game will be in a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins, where she will handle the bases in Game 1 and move behind the plate for the series finale. Pawol's call-up makes her the third female official to debut in the 'Big Four' professional sports leagues, following Violet Palmer in the NBA and Sarah Thomas in the NFL.

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