Jen Pawol makes history as MLB's first female umpire in regular-season game
Major League Baseball
(
MLB
) as
Jen Pawol
becomes the
first woman
to umpire a regular-season Major League game. Pawol, a 48-year-old veteran minor league umpire from New Jersey, will officiate during the
Miami Marlins-Atlanta Braves
series at Truist Park in Atlanta, including both games of Saturday's doubleheader and the series finale on Sunday behind home plate.
Jen Pawol
Pawol's journey is the culmination of nearly a decade of professional umpiring experience. She began her career in 2016 at the rookie ball level and steadily climbed the ranks, becoming the first female umpire at the
Triple-A level in 34 years
in 2023. She also served as the home-plate umpire for the Triple-A Championship that year.
Productivity Tool
Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide
By Metla Sudha Sekhar
View Program
Finance
Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory
By Dinesh Nagpal
View Program
Finance
Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code
By CA Rahul Gupta
View Program
Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel
By Neil Patel
View Program
Finance
Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading
By Kunal Patel
View Program
Productivity Tool
Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide
By Study at home
View Program
Artificial Intelligence
AI For Business Professionals Batch 2
By Ansh Mehra
View Program
In 2024, she broke another barrier by becoming the first female to umpire an MLB Spring Training game since 2007, officiating multiple games over the past two spring seasons. That experience earned her a spot as a Triple-A crew chief and a position on MLB's call-up list, making her eligible to substitute in major league games when needed. The doubleheader weekend created the opportunity for MLB to add a fifth umpire to the crew, enabling Pawol's debut on the major league field.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
The Fastest Way to Overcome Knee Pain and Swelling
Wellnee
Undo
Before umpiring professionally, Pawol was a standout collegiate softball player at Hofstra University and even represented the United States on the women's national baseball team. She then umpired NCAA softball from 2010 to 2016 before transitioning into professional baseball umpiring after attending MLB's Umpire Training Academy in 2015.
MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. praised Pawol's achievement, stating, 'This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen's hard work, dedication and love of the game. 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.' Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also highlighted the significance of inclusion, commenting, 'Baseball's done a great job of being completely inclusive... It's good for the game.'
Live Events
Women in the business
Pawol's historic promotion follows broader trends of breaking gender barriers in major U.S. professional sports leagues. The NBA led the way by incorporating women into full-time officiating roles nearly three decades ago. The NFL appointed its first full-time female official in 2015, who later became the first woman to officiate a
Super Bowl
in 2021. Women have also recently officiated at the men's soccer World Cup, further advancing representation in professional sports officiating.
Despite decades of progress, Pawol's MLB debut remains groundbreaking for baseball, a league that has a storied history of breaking civil rights barriers, most notably with Jackie Robinson nearly 80 years ago. The
Jackie Robinson Foundation
publicly congratulated Pawol on continuing that legacy of equality in sports.
The arrival of the first female umpire in an MLB regular-season game is timely as the league navigates a changing landscape in diversity initiatives and international player inclusion.
Jen Pawol's story reinforces umpiring as a viable professional career for men and women alike, as she herself pointed out, 'This is a viable career becoming a professional umpire – men and women, girls and boys. I didn't know that the first several years when I got into umpiring in amateur ball for 10 years.'
Her debut weekend officiating at the highest level of baseball will be watched closely as a landmark moment in the sport's history and a significant step forward for gender equality in professional sports.
This historic event is scheduled for August 9-10, 2025, at Truist Park, witnessing a trailblazer breaking new ground for women in baseball umpiring.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Hardik Pandya always counts his calories: Cricket icon shares his diet secret for staying fit without starving
Indian cricket all-rounder Hardik Pandya is as well-known for his dynamic presence on the field as he is for his striking fashion sense and enviable fitness. At 31, he continues to inspire fans by showcasing snippets of his demanding workout sessions, which are key to maintaining his athletic edge. Recently, Pandya gave his followers a detailed look into his daily eating habits, revealing a surprisingly simple and sustainable approach to nutrition. Contrary to trends like intermittent fasting or drastic crash diets, his philosophy revolves around wholesome eating and careful portion management. A Day's Diet in Focus In a video shared on Instagram, Pandya outlined what fuels his day—a menu rooted in familiar, nutrient-rich staples high in protein yet moderate in calories. As a professional athlete, he said he remains vigilant about tracking his calorie intake and incorporates apple cider vinegar supplements to curb cravings and help manage appetite effectively. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "As an athlete, I always count my calories," he stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like He is our only child, we cannot see him suffer. Help us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Morning Hydration Ritual Pandya's mornings begin with 500 ml of water, a habit he follows before hitting the gym. This early hydration routine, supported by studies from Harvard and the National Academy of Medicine, offers numerous benefits: it jumpstarts metabolism, stabilises blood pressure, cushions joints, safeguards organs, boosts cognitive performance, improves focus, combats fatigue, maintains body temperature, balances electrolytes, aids weight management, and strengthens immunity. For Pandya, this first step sets the tone for an active and productive day. Power Breakfast to Start Strong Breakfast for the cricketer is a nutrient-dense blend designed to energise and nourish. He enjoys a smoothie combining sunflower seeds, oats, avocado, almonds, almond milk, and a banana. This combination delivers roughly 650 calories and around 30 grams of protein—ideal for those aiming to build strength while keeping weight in check. It is a balanced mix of healthy fats, complex carbs, and high-quality plant-based protein, giving him sustained energy through the morning. Midday Appetite Control and Comfort Lunch Before lunch, Pandya once again relies on his apple cider vinegar drink mixed with water, a refreshing way to manage hunger while still keeping meals satisfying. His lunch plate features traditional Indian comfort foods like jeera rice, palak, and daal. Together, they provide approximately 550 calories and 24 grams of protein, balancing flavour with essential nutrients. Evening Recovery Fuel Post-practice, Pandya turns to oatmeal, a reliable meal for recovery. This portion packs around 600 calories and 28 grams of protein, replenishing his energy stores and aiding muscle repair after intense training sessions. A Balanced Dinner to End the Day Dinner follows the same mindful approach. Another dose of apple cider vinegar precedes his final meal—a vibrant Asian green bowl with tofu and brown rice. This combination offers a harmonious balance of complex carbs, plant protein, and fibre, making it a satisfying yet light conclusion to his daily menu. Hardik Pandya's dietary approach proves that consistent fitness results don't require extreme regimens — just balanced nutrition, portion awareness, and a commitment to daily discipline. If you want, I can also restructure this into a more motivational, lifestyle-magazine style with punchier, reader-grabbing lines. That would make it feel even more engaging.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Nisha, Muskan bag gold as India win nine medals in Asian U19 Boxing
Young Indian women pugilists Nisha and Muskan showcased their skills by winning gold medals, while five others bagged silver in the U19 Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok on Sunday. Of the 10 female boxers in the fray in the U19 category, nine will return with medals -- including two gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze -- underlining the prowess of the Indians who competed against pugilists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China among others. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Nisha raised her level in the 54kg category to dominate the third and final round against Sirui Yang of China to record a 4:1 win, while Muskan (57kg) coming out with an aggressive intent and staved off the challenge from Kazakhstan's Ayazhan Ermek for a 3:2 split verdict. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Aarti Kumari (75kg) lost to Tongtong Gu of China, while Kritika Wasan's (80kg) efforts were not enough to avoid a 2:3 loss against Kuralay Yeginbaikyzy of Kazakhstan. Parchi Tokas (80+kg) went down by an identical margin against Sobirakhon Shakhobidinova of Uzbekistan. Live Events Vini went down against Sevara Mamatova of Uzbekistan in the 60kg final, while Arinda Akimoto of Japan got the better or Nisha 4:1 in the 65kg summit clash. Three more boxers will be in action in the men's finals later in the day. India are also assured of 13 medals in the U22 category with five boxers set to fight for gold on Monday. India has fielded a 40-member contingent in the U19 and U22 continental event. PTI
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Praggnanandhaa decodes Magnus Carlsen's greatness - 'He's just universally strong'
Magnus Carlsen R Praggnanandhaa, one of the few chess players who has troubled World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen , revealed what makes the Norwegian so great. Praggnanandhaa first defeated Magnus Carlsen at the Champions Chess Tour in 2022. His maiden classical victory over the Norwegian came at Norway Chess 2024. In July 2025, he achieved a remarkable feat at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess event, beating Carlsen twice in just three days. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'He has this intuition in every position, which is just amazing," Praggnanandhaa said on Raj Shamani's Figuring Out podcast. "Like when you actually see his game — even in shorter formats — he usually plays the top three choices of the computer every single time. That intuition is something that he developed over a period of time. Poll What do you think is the key factor behind Magnus Carlsen's success in chess? Intuition Mental Strength Knowledge of Classics Endgame Skills "He's one of the players who knows a lot of classics from the past. He has read a lot, and I think that's one thing he has that helps him. "Also, mentally he's really strong. You can never see him collapse in a tournament completely. Even when you actually make a mistake when he's lost, he's there fighting every chance he's getting, and he pushes till the end. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo He tries every resource possible. "He exhausts them, and I think that's one of the reasons he's at the top. When he was coming up, he was playing these endgames which, in earlier days, people thought were completely fine. They would just make draws because of mutual respect for the players. "They would think it's okay, no one is going to win this, let's make an early draw. But Magnus started playing all those positions. "He started grinding and then started winning also. So he's just universally strong, and he's mentally strong as well, which is really…' Praggnanandhaa added. Praggnanandhaa also revealed the reason why, whenever they lock horns, the match ends up being exciting. 'I have never thought about this actually. If I have to speak about the style, he's more of an intuitive player," he said. "His intuition is so good. Even though my intuition suggests a move, I usually try to go into details. "It's possible that I can catch him there because he hasn't gone into the details. Sometimes intuition can also be wrong, and I can catch him. Our games are always exciting.' Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
