WATCH: MLB to Debut Its First-Ever Female Umpire
Jen Pawol, a 48-year-old from New Jersey, is set to make history as the first woman to umpire a regular-season Major League Baseball game during the Miami Marlins-Atlanta Braves series at Truist Park this weekend, August 9-10, 2025. Pawol will officiate both games of Saturday’s doubleheader on the bases and call balls and strikes behind home plate for Sunday’s series finale. Her debut follows nearly a decade of umpiring in the minor leagues, starting in the Gulf Coast Rookie League in 2016, and includes significant milestones like becoming a Triple-A crew chief and the first woman to umpire the International League championship game in 2023.
Pawol, a former collegiate softball player at Hofstra University, transitioned to umpiring after attending MLB’s Umpire Training Academy in 2015. She has worked spring training games in 2024 and 2025 and is one of 17 Triple-A umpires eligible for MLB call-ups. Her promotion has been praised by MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., who called it a “reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication, and love of the game,” noting its significance for women and young girls aspiring to roles in baseball. The Major League Baseball Umpires Association also lauded her “skill, dedication, and perseverance.”
This milestone comes 28 years after the NBA’s first female referee, Violet Palmer, in 1997, and a decade after the NFL’s Sarah Thomas in 2015. Pawol’s journey reflects a broader trend of women breaking barriers in male-dominated sports, following pioneers like Bernice Gera, who umpired one minor league game in 1972, and Pam Postema, who worked spring training in 1989 but faced significant resistance. Pawol has emphasized professionalism over gender, stating in 2016, “I can control my hustle, my calls, my professionalism,” and expressed hope that her role inspires more women to join the field.
For video coverage and highlights of Pawol’s debut, check MLB.com or the official MLB YouTube channel, which may feature game clips and interviews. Additional details are available at NPR, The Athletic, or NBC News.
⚾️🧢 NJ native Jen Powal to make history as first female umpire at MLB regular season game
— 1010 WINS on 92.3 FM (@1010WINS) August 8, 2025
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