Baseball umpire Jen Pawol earns praise after her day behind the plate
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MLB home plate umpire Jen Pawol (in black) speaking with Atlanta Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz (second from left) during a pitching mound visit on Aug 10.
PHOTO: EPA
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ATLANTA – Umpire Jen Pawol, 48, had already written her name into the history books on Aug 9 when she became the first female umpire to officiate a regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) game.
The rover umpire was stationed at third and first bases for the double-header between the Miami Marlins and hosts Atlanta Braves.
But the real test would occur the following day, when Pawol crouched behind catchers Sean Murphy (Braves) and Liam Hicks (Marlins) to call balls and strikes in the series finale.
Atlanta scored the game’s final seven runs and triumphed 7-1, but even losing manager Clayton McCullough felt Pawol was more than up to the task.
“I think Jen did a really nice job,” McCullough said.
“I think she’s very composed back there. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her. Big day for Major League Baseball.
“I congratulated her again on that because it’s quite the accomplishment.”
Pawol called 47 strikes, compared to 34 swinging strikes, including a 15-5 breakdown for Braves’ starter and winner Joey Wentz.
When asked about Pawol’s calls, Wentz said: “I try not to focus on the zone, to be honest with you... I thought it was good though.”
As a roving umpire, Pawol’s next MLB assignment is unknown.
She is a 10-year minor league umpiring veteran, beginning in the Gulf Coast League in 2016. She earned the assignment in the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and worked major league spring training games in 2024 and 2025.
“I wish her the best moving forward as she continues to, I’m sure, hopefully one day be up full time, you know, a permanent big league umpire,” McCullough said.
On her road to the top, Pawol said: “It has been a long, hard journey to the top here. I’m just extremely focused on getting my calls right and I’m so grateful to all those along the way who have helped me become a better umpire every day.”
MLB’s addition of a female umpire comes 28 years after Violet Palmer became the first woman to referee an National Basketball Association game in October 1997.
Shannon Eastin was the National Football League’s (NFL) first female on-field official, hired as a replacement when regular officials were locked out in a contract dispute in September 2012.
Three years later, Sarah Thomas became the NFL’s first full-time female on-field official and in 2024, two women worked on the officiating crew of the same game for the first time.
Stephanie Frappart of France was the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup football match when she worked a group-stage game in 2022. REUTERS, AFP
