Jen Pawol Makes MLB History as First Female Umpire, Debuts in Marlins-Braves Clash

ATLANTA — On Saturday, Aug. 9, history will echo through Truist Park when Jen Pawol takes the field as the first woman ever assigned to umpire a regular-season Major League Baseball game. The 48-year-old New Yorker will work both ends of the Miami Marlins–Atlanta Braves doubleheader, then move behind the plate for Sunday’s finale, shattering a gender barrier that has stood for 149 seasons. A nine-year climb from Rookie ball to “The Show” Pawol’s meteoric rise began in 2016 in the Gulf Coast League. By 2023 she was calling balls and strikes in Triple-A and became the first woman selected for the Triple-A National Championship game. In 2024 she earned an MLB Spring Training assignment, the first woman to do so since 2007, and entered 2025 on MLB’s short call-up list. This weekend’s promotion completes her march through every level of professional baseball. Why Pawol’s debut matters • Breaks MLB’s last on-field gender barrier, opening a clear pathway for other women officials. • Adds a fresh, highly rated evaluator to a shrinking pool of professional umpires as MLB grapples with retirements and increased replay scrutiny. • Amplifies MLB’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at a moment when women’s sports are drawing record audiences. What to watch in Atlanta Saturday, Game 1: Pawol will handle the bases, likely at first or third, where judgment calls on checked swings and fair-foul rulings are constant. Saturday, Game 2: Expect a rotation that shifts her to second base, the nerve center for double-play calls. Sunday: Pawol dons the plate gear, assuming full responsibility for the strike zone in a nationally televised showcase. From softball star to MLB arbiter Before wearing black and calling strikes, Pawol was a star catcher at Hofstra University and a 2004 U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team member. Her playing background, paired with degrees in fine arts and criminal justice, caught the attention of MLB’s Umpire Development program, which fast-tracked her through the minor leagues. Reaction across baseball Players and managers from both clubs voiced support during pre-series media sessions, noting Pawol’s consistently high evaluation scores in the minors. MLB Chief Umpire Officer Michael Hill praised her “poise, rules knowledge, and game-management skills,” calling the assignment “long overdue.” Fans are expected to greet Pawol with commemorative signs and a special welcome video the Braves will display pre-game. Next steps MLB officials emphasized that Pawol’s call-up is performance-based, not ceremonial. Strong grades this weekend could keep her on the rotating call-up crew for future series — and position her for a permanent staff vacancy as early as 2026. Bottom line Jen Pawol’s debut is more than a milestone; it is a tangible shift in who can claim center stage in America’s pastime. When she signals “Play ball!” in Atlanta, a new chapter for baseball — and for women in professional sports — officially begins.