MLB history will be made this weekend.
Jen Pawol will become the 156-year-old league’s first female umpire when she officiates Saturday’s contest between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins.
“This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game,” Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred said, via MLB.com. ”She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my congratulations to Jen and her family on this milestone.”
Pawol first began umpiring in minor league baseball in 2016 and reached the Triple-A level in 2023, also having worked MLB spring training games during her career as well. She was promoted to the ranks of crew chief in Triple-A in 2024, making her the leader of a four-person umpiring unit.
Prior to minor league baseball, Pawol was an umpire for college softball in the Big Ten Conference from 2013 to 2015.
MLB will be the third of the four major North American sports leagues to employ a female referee. The NBA hired its first female ref in 1997, with the NFL following suit in 2015. Additionally, the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022 was the first in the event’s history to include female officials.
“For me, personally, I just love doing the job,” Pawol told MILB.com in 2016. “I’m passionate about it, and it’s just part of who I am.”