Pawol to make history as MLB's first female umpire 

Jen Pawol will make history this weekend as the first woman to be an umpire in a regular-season MLB game.

Pawol will ump three games during this weekend’s Marlins-Braves series in Atlanta, including both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader and the series finale on Sunday, when she will be behind home plate. The doubleheader necessitated adding a fifth umpire to the crew, since each home plate umpire skips the other game they’re not working.

“This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game," Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said. "She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my congratulations to Jen and her family on this milestone.”

Pawol has steadily climbed the umpiring ranks since beginning her pro career in Rookie ball in 2016. She reached Triple-A in 2023, becoming the first female umpire at that level in 34 years. She was the home-plate ump for the Triple-A Championship that September. In 2024, Pawol became the first female umpire in a Spring Training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007. She was a Triple-A crew chief in ‘24 and worked more Spring Training games in 2025.

“The Major League Baseball Umpires Association congratulates Jen Pawol on her historic Major League debut," the MLBUA said in a statement. "This moment represents more than a personal milestone for Jen; it is a groundbreaking step for our profession and for the continued advancement of women in sports. Jen’s achievement is a testament to her skill, dedication, and perseverance. We are proud to stand with Jen as she breaks this barrier, and we look forward to welcoming more women into the umpiring profession.”

Pawol played softball at Hofstra University and at the Amateur Softball Association Major Fast Pitch level for 10 years before making the transition to umpiring. The former catcher worked college softball games and umpired in the Big Ten Conference from 2013 to 2015.

"For me, personally, I just love doing the job," Pawol said in 2016. "I'm passionate about it, and it's just part of who I am."

The following year, Pawol attended the 2016 Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Fla., and earned her first assignment in the Gulf Coast League (now known as the Florida Complex League). At the time, Pawol was the seventh female umpire in Minor League Baseball history.

Pawol, a New Jersey native, is one of 17 current Triple-A umpires eligible to serve as a substitute in Major League games.

“Anybody in baseball will tell you that you’ve just got to keep it simple, keep working hard, put your all into it and get ready for the next day,” Pawol said in 2024. “That’s all I think about every day -- get better before tomorrow.”