Jen Pawol Set to Make History as MLB's First Female Umpire
Jen Pawol will become the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball regular-season game this weekend, breaking a significant gender barrier in professional sports.
Jen Pawol to be first woman to umpire MLB game on Saturday
New York Daily News
MLB will call up its first female umpire
Chicago Sun-Times
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Overview
- Jen Pawol is poised to make history this weekend as the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball regular-season game, marking a significant milestone for gender equality in professional sports.
- She will work a doubleheader on Saturday and the plate on Sunday, officiating a game between the Marlins and Braves, following her previous experience in MLB spring training games.
- Pawol's promotion comes after she worked MLB spring training games in both 2024 and 2025, demonstrating her readiness for the big league stage after years of dedicated umpiring.
- A former all-state softball and soccer player, Pawol attended an MLB umpire tryout camp in 2015 and previously umpired NCAA softball from 2010-2016, building a strong foundation.
- Her historic debut follows 28 years after the NBA broke its own gender barrier for game officials, highlighting MLB's progress in promoting diversity within its officiating ranks.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally by focusing on factual reporting of Jen Pawol's historic promotion as the first female MLB umpire. They provide her background, career progression, and relevant historical context from other sports without employing loaded language or presenting a biased narrative. The coverage emphasizes the milestone itself.
"Jen Pawol is set to become the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball when she works games this weekend between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves."
CBS News"Pawol is getting called up to be part of the five-team umpire crew for this weekend's Atlanta Braves-Miami Marlins series, which features a doubleheader on Saturday, making her the first female umpire to work a regular-season MLB game."
USA TODAY"Jen Pawol is set to become the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball when she works games this weekend between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves."
Chicago Sun-Times"Jen Pawol is set to become the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball when she works games this weekend between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves."
Associated PressArticles (6)
Center (4)
FAQ
Jen Pawol was an all-state softball and soccer player in high school, played softball at Hofstra University, umpired NCAA softball from 2010-2016, attended an MLB umpire tryout camp in 2015, and began her professional umpiring career in minor league baseball in 2016, reaching the Triple-A level by 2023.
Jen Pawol will make her MLB umpiring debut during a doubleheader on Saturday and the plate on Sunday in games between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in August 2025.
MLB's promotion of Jen Pawol as its first female umpire in a regular-season game follows similar gender barrier breaks in the NBA 28 years ago, the NFL 10 years ago, and the men's soccer World Cup three years ago. However, the NHL still has not had a female referee.
Jen Pawol was the first female umpire to work a spring training game since 2007, became a Triple-A crew chief, worked the Triple-A National Championship Game, and was placed on MLB's call-up list in 2024 before making her major league debut in 2025.
History
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