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Time of India
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Jen Pawol makes history as MLB's first female umpire in regular-season game
This weekend marks a historic milestone for 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.
Axios
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Axios
MLB names first woman to umpire a regular-season major league game
Major League Baseball has announced that a minor league veteran umpire will become the first female umpire ever to work a regular-season Major League game. Why it matters: When Jen Pawol walks on the field during this weekend's Marlins-Braves series in Atlanta, she'll be breaking another barrier in a league that helped break the color line with Jackie Robinson nearly 80 years ago. Driving the news: MLB said Wednesday that Pawol, a Minor League Umpire since 2016, will work the bases in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. She is one of 17 current Triple-A call-up umpires eligible to substitute in Major League games. The doubleheader necessitated adding a fifth umpire to the crew, since each home plate umpire skips the other game they're not working. What they're saying: "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 in a statement. "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." Pawol said last year, "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." Context: Pawol has climbed the umpiring ranks since starting 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. The intrigue: Upon hearing the news, the Jackie Robinson Foundation sent out a public congratulation to Pawol. "The Jackie Robinson Museum offers a heartfelt congratulations to Jen Pawol," the foundation posted on Instagram. "The trailblazing legacies of Jackie and Rachel Robinson live on through those who continue the fight for equality in today's game." Flashback: Pamela Postema became the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball spring training game in 1988. Houston Astros pitcher Bob Kneppe r drew national attention after he said women shouldn't umpire games and that it conflicted with his Biblical views. Knepper said he held no personal animosity toward Postema but believed women shouldn't serve as umpires because they shouldn't have authority over men. Between the lines: The move comes as MLB faces uncertainty about its diversity initiatives and the immigration status of international players.
Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves-Marlins Series to Feature First Female Umpire in MLB History
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday. The double header will require a fifth umpire to join the crew for the weekend series, and Major League Baseball is calling up Jen Pawol. Pawol will become the first female umpire in regular-season history. She will be working the bases in each of Saturday's games, and will be behind the plate on Sunday. "Pawol has steadily climbed the umpiring ranks since beginning her pro career in Rookie ball in 2016," wrote Brian Murphy. "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." TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Jen Pawol, a veteran MiLB umpire, working a spring training game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2025 in Tampa,... TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Jen Pawol, a veteran MiLB umpire, working a spring training game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. MoreThe MLB will join the National Basketball Association and the National Football League by calling up Pawol. The NBA and NFL have both featured female officials for years. The Braves and Marlins are not playing for much in the standings, but Pawol's debut is a historic moment for the league. Suddenly, a matchup between two teams seemingly out of contention will be part of a milestone moment. After years of calling games at the minor league level, Pawol will get to make her debut in the big leagues. According to Murphy, she was one of 17 umpires at the Triple-A level eligible to be called up. More MLB: Mets' Carlos Mendoza Sends 3-Word Pete Alonso Message With Free Agency Looming
UPI
06-08-2025
- Sport
- UPI
First woman MLB umpire to take the field in Atlanta this weekend
Jen Pawol will be the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game this weekend in Atlanta. Photo courtesy of Major League Baseball. Aug. 6 (UPI) -- One of the umpires in the Marlins-Braves series this weekend will be the first woman to umpire in a Major League Baseball game. Jen Pawol, a New Jersey native, will join the umpire team in Atlanta, where she'll work three games. On Sunday, she'll be behind home plate. She is one of 17 Triple-A umpires eligible to 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, 48, said in 2024. "That's all I think about every day -- get better before tomorrow." She has climbed the umpire ranks since starting her pro career in 2016. She reached Triple-A in 2023 and was the first woman to reach that level in 34 years. She umped behind home plate for the Triple-A Championship that year. In 2024, Pawol became the first woman umpire in a Spring Training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007. She was a Triple-A crew chief in 2024 and worked more Spring Training games in 2025. "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." She played softball at Hofstra University and at the Amateur Softball Association Major Fast Pitch level for 10 years before switching to umpiring. The former catcher umpired in the Big Ten Conference from 2013 to 2015. She went to the 2016 Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Fla., and got her first assignment in the Gulf Coast League (now known as the Florida Complex League). Pawol was the seventh woman umpire in Minor League Baseball history. Before becoming a full-time umpire, she was an art teacher.
