umpire
Jen Pawol will make Major League Baseball history on Aug. 9, becoming MLB’s first female umpire, working three games in the Miami Marlins-Atlanta Braves series in Atlanta.
Pawol will umpire both games of the doubleheader. She will also work the series finale on Aug. 10. For that game, she will be behind home plate. The doubleheader required adding a fifth umpire to the crew. This is standard when plate umpires skip the other game.
Commissioner of Baseball Robert Manfred, Jr. praised the milestone.
“This historic accomplishment is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game,” Manfred said. “She has earned this opportunity. We are proud of the strong example she has set. This is particularly true for women and young girls aspiring to on-field roles.”
The Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA) also celebrated the historic move.
“The MLBUA congratulates Jen Pawol on her historic Major League debut,” MLBUA officials said in a statement. “This moment represents more than a personal milestone. It is a groundbreaking step for our profession. It advances women in sports.”
Pawol has steadily progressed through the minor leagues. She began her professional career in Rookie ball in 2016 and reached Triple-A in 2023, making her the first female umpire at that level in 34 years.
In 2024, Pawol broke another barrier. She became the first female umpire in a Spring Training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Facebook or TikTok @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
.){kind=link}