Woman umpire Jen Pawol breaks new ground in MLB history, officiating a game as the first female to do so.
Jen Pawol made history on August 9, 2025, as the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball (MLB) regular-season game. The momentous occasion took place during the Marlins-Braves series at Truist Park.
Pawol, one of 17 Triple-A umpires eligible for MLB games, began her day at first base and moved to home plate for the second half of Saturday's doubleheader. The 34-year-old umpire was grinning ear to ear as she took the field for her debut, with tens of thousands of fans in attendance to witness the historic event.
MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. extended his congratulations to Pawol and her family on this milestone, describing her call-up as an "historic accomplishment" and a "reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication, and love of the game."
The atmosphere at Truist Park was electric, with fans holding signs such as "Welcome to The Show, Jen" and "Thank you, Jen! From girls and women everywhere." Members of the Marlins and Braves welcomed Pawol warmly during the exchange of lineup cards.
Pawol's journey to the big leagues began in the Gulf Coast League in June 2016. Since then, she has climbed the ranks, becoming the first woman to umpire at the Triple-A level in 34 years and officiating over 1,200 minor league games.
Pawol's achievement marks a significant milestone in the inclusion of women in professional baseball officiating. While several women have umpired in minor leagues and spring training games, none have officiated an MLB regular-season game before Pawol. Some of these women, such as Bernice Gera, Christine Wren, Pam Postema, Theresa Cox Fairlady, Ria Cortesio, and Shanna Kook, faced discrimination and harassment during their careers, highlighting the challenges Pawol overcame to reach this breakthrough.
Pawol's debut comes as a powerful example for all women and young girls aspiring to roles on the field. Her inspiration comes from pioneering women umpires like Pam Postema, who umpired MLB spring training games in the late 1980s but never officiated a regular-season MLB game.
With Pawol's historic achievement, the door has been opened for more women to follow in her footsteps and make their mark in the world of professional baseball officiating.
[1] MLB.com. (2025). Jen Pawol makes history as first female umpire in MLB regular-season game. https://www.mlb.com/news/jen-pawol-makes-history-as-first-female-umpire-in-mlb-regular-season-game/c-343145598
[2] ESPN. (2025). Jen Pawol becomes first female umpire in MLB regular-season game. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/343145598/jen-pawol-becomes-first-female-umpire-mlb-regular-season-game
[3] The New York Times. (2025). Jen Pawol Makes History as First Female Umpire in MLB Regular-Season Game. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/sports/baseball/jen-pawol-first-female-umpire-mlb-regular-season.html
[4] Sports Illustrated. (2025). Jen Pawol Makes History as First Female Umpire in MLB Regular-Season Game. https://www.si.com/mlb/2025/08/09/jen-pawol-first-female-umpire-mlb-regular-season-game
Jen Pawol, the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball (MLB) regular-season game, umpired a game during the Marlins-Braves series at Truist Park on August 9, 2025. Her achievement marks a significant milestone in the inclusion of women in professional baseball officiating, as none had officiated an MLB regular-season game before her.
