Jen Pawol: Making History as MLB's First Female Umpire

The call was a decade in the making. It was the moment Jen Pawol had been working towards, a culmination of over 1,200 minor league games, countless hours of video review, and an unshakeable love for baseball. When she finally got the news that she is now the first woman MLB umpire, she was in the middle of umpiring a Triple-A game. As she later recalled, she was "overcome with emotion." On Saturday, she will step onto the field for a doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves, making history as the first woman to umpire a regular-season Major League Baseball game.

Her debut is more than just a personal milestone; it is a groundbreaking moment for the sport. Baseball, a game with a deep-rooted history and long-held traditions, is witnessing a monumental shift in its culture. Jen Pawol's journey is a powerful testament to her skill, dedication, and perseverance, and her success marks a new era for women in sports. It is a story of a former athlete who refused to leave the field, paving the way for future generations of women to follow their dreams to the highest levels of the game.

From the Softball Diamond to the Umpire's Plate

Jen Pawol's connection to baseball and softball runs deep, starting in her childhood home in New Jersey. Baseball was a constant presence in her life, and she was a natural athlete. She excelled at both softball and soccer in high school and went on to play Division I softball at Hofstra University on a scholarship. As a catcher for the Hofstra Pride, she was a standout player, earning three-time Colonial Athletic Association All-Conference honors. Her passion for the sport was undeniable, and she even went on to play for the USA Baseball women's national baseball team in 2001.

After her competitive playing career came to an end, Pawol found herself at a crossroads. She had earned a Master's degree in painting and was working as an art teacher, but something was missing. As she said in an interview, "I wasn't really satisfied. Coming off of a huge competitive career, just playing locally, I wasn't getting my fix." She was still umpiring fastpitch softball on the side to help fund her education, and it was during one of those games that she had a moment of clarity. Looking at the umpire, she thought, "I think that's it. I got to go for that." She realized that umpiring was a way for her to stay on the field, to be a part of the game she loved, and to keep that competitive fire alive.

Her journey into professional umpiring began in earnest in 2015 when, at an umpire camp, she was noticed by longtime MLB umpire Ted Barrett. He saw in her the physical toughness and, more importantly, a willingness to learn. Barrett invited her to attend a clinic and then an MLB umpire tryout camp, where she won a scholarship to the MLB umpire academy. This was the start of a new path, one that would lead her on a decade-long climb through the ranks of Minor League Baseball.

A Decades-Long Climb Through the Minors

The road to the majors for an umpire is long and arduous, often taking a decade or more. For a woman, the path has been even more challenging, with very few ever getting close. As a woman in baseball umpiring, Pawol officially began her journey in 2016 in the then-Rookie level Gulf Coast League. From there, she steadily and relentlessly climbed the ranks, a journey she referred to as a "10-year interview process" for this very opportunity.

Over the past decade, Pawol has worked more than 1,200 games across every affiliate level of Minor League Baseball. Her hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. In 2023, she reached the Triple-A International League, becoming the first woman to umpire at that level in 35 years and the first to umpire the International League championship game. She also became a Triple-A crew chief, a significant step that showed her peers and superiors that she was a leader and ready for the next level. She also umpired in MLB spring training games in 2024, becoming the first woman to do so since 2007 Pawol has had to navigate a historically male-dominated culture, but she has done so with grace and professionalism. She has earned the respect of players and coaches, many of whom have cheered her on.

She has also found a strong sense of community and support among her fellow umpires. Pawol said that umpiring was for her and that it was in her DNA. She added that she loved the camaraderie with her crew and the other umpires, as well as the travel and working out. She explained that there were so many similarities between being an athlete and an umpire, and she never had to leave the field when she was umpiring.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

While Jen Pawol is the first woman to umpire a regular-season MLB game, she is not the first to have this dream in the history of female umpires in MLB. Her achievement is built on the hard-fought journeys of women who came before her, and she has made it clear that she is standing on their shoulders.

Two of her most important mentors were Pam Postema and Ria Cortesio, women who came tantalizingly close to reaching the major leagues themselves. Pam Postema, a minor-league umpire for 13 seasons, was the first woman to umpire a big-league spring training game in 1989. However, her contract was canceled before she ever got a chance to umpire a regular-season game. Ria Cortesio was the second woman to umpire an MLB spring training game in 2007, but she was let go after nine seasons in the minors, despite being ranked as the top umpire in her Double-A league. The paths of these two pioneers, and others, showed just how difficult it was for a woman to break into the highest level of professional baseball. Pawol has said that both Postema and Cortesio have been her mentors and a source of inspiration.

Pawol's long-awaited debut comes at a time when other major professional sports leagues have already broken this gender barrier. The NBA had its first female referee 28 years ago, and the NFL has had female officials for the past 10 years, with Sarah Thomas becoming the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl. While baseball is a bit behind, Jen Pawol's debut is a powerful statement that the sport is now ready to move forward.

The opportunity for her debut as the first woman MLB umpire came from a unique set of circumstances. The MLB rules require a fifth umpire to be added to a crew when there is a doubleheader, as was the case for the Marlins-Braves series. With an opening created on the crew, Pawol was a natural choice. She will work the bases for Saturday's two games and, in another historic first for her, will be behind the plate for the series finale on Sunday, where she will be responsible for the last word in the game.

The Impact and Legacy of a Groundbreaking Debut

The moment Jen Pawol takes the field will be a celebration of not just her personal journey but a profound step forward for diversity and inclusion in professional sports. Her story shows that the hard-fought journey through the minor leagues can lead to the biggest stage. Her success will not only inspire women and girls to pursue their dreams in baseball, but it will also challenge the long-held beliefs about who belongs on the field. Her debut as a first female MLB umpire is a reminder that talent, professionalism, and a fierce dedication to the game are the only things that truly matter. It is a moment that will be remembered in the history of the sport, marking a new beginning for baseball's longest-standing tradition of equality.

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