Jen Pawol made history on Saturday as she became the first female umpire in Major League Baseball’s 100-plus-year history. The 48-year-old umpire, who has been in professional baseball since 2016, was part of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. Pawol’s historic moment came when she called a game-opening strike on Xavier Edwards, which was immediately procured and thrown back to the side for authentication.
Pawol’s journey to becoming an MLB umpire has been long and challenging. She has faced skepticism and criticism from some quarters, with some fans berating her for no reason other than her ponytail. However, Pawol has shown remarkable toughness and resilience in the face of adversity.
The sport badly needed a female umpire like Pawol, who embodies the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Her promotion to MLB is a significant step forward for women’s representation in baseball. As she said in an interview, “I’ve methodically moved up. I umpired over 1,200 minor-league games before getting the call.”
Pawol’s achievement has inspired many, including crew chief Chris Guccione, who called her one of the proudest moments he’s been a part of in his career. The MLB league knows that Pawol will be heavily scrutinized as she makes her debut at the highest level, but they also recognize her incredible talent and work ethic.
As Pawol continues to break barriers for women in baseball, it’s clear that she is a trailblazer who deserves recognition. Her dedication to the sport and her people has made her an invaluable asset to MLB, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this remarkable umpire.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6545610/2025/08/11/jen-pawol-major-league-baseball