UPDATE: Major League Baseball (MLB) is making history as Jen Pawol is officially set to become the first woman to umpire in a Major League game this weekend. Pawol will take the field for her historic debut during a doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta on Saturday, October 7.
This groundbreaking announcement comes just days before her first game, marking a monumental moment in sports history. Pawol, a 48-year-old from New Jersey, will be working the bases on Saturday and will serve as the plate umpire on Sunday.
The significance of this appointment cannot be overstated. It arrives 28 years after the NBA broke the gender barrier for game officials, 10 years after the NFL followed suit, and just three years after the men’s soccer World Cup featured a female referee. Pawol’s ascent in the umpiring ranks is a powerful reminder of the strides being made toward gender equality in professional sports.
Pawol has a rich background in athletics, having excelled as an all-state softball and soccer player in New Jersey. She attended Hofstra University on a softball scholarship, where she became a three-time all-conference pick and represented the USA Baseball women’s national team in 2001. Her journey to this historic moment began in earnest when she transitioned from playing to umpiring after feeling unfulfilled in her coaching and teaching roles.
“I wasn’t really satisfied,” Pawol reflected last year. “Coming off of a huge competitive career, just playing locally, I wasn’t getting my fix. And I remember looking at the umpire and being like, I think that’s it. I got to go for that.”
Pawol has been on the MLB radar since she officiated NCAA softball from 2010-2016, and she attended an MLB umpire tryout camp in 2015, which led to her invitation to the Umpire Training Academy in Florida. Her commitment paid off when she secured a position in the Gulf Coast League in 2016.
This weekend, as Pawol steps onto the field, she will not only be making history but also inspiring a new generation of female athletes and officials. Her presence as a female umpire is a significant leap forward for inclusivity in sports, paving the way for future female officials across all major leagues.
As the MLB gears up for a weekend filled with anticipation, fans are encouraged to share this historic moment. The sporting world is watching closely, and many are eager to celebrate this significant achievement in gender equality.
Stay tuned for more updates as this historic weekend unfolds, and witness the dawn of a new era in Major League Baseball.
