Jen Pawol

Jen Pawol
Pawol at Werner Park in 2024
MLB – No. 95
Umpire
Born: (1976-12-29) December 29, 1976
West Milford, New Jersey, U.S.
MLB debut
August 9, 2025
Crew information
Umpiring crewUnassigned (Triple-A call-up list)
Career highlights and awards
Special Assignments
Medals
Women's baseball
Representing  United States
Women's Baseball World Series
Gold medal – first place 2001 Toronto Team

Jennifer Pawol (born December 29, 1976)[1] is an American baseball umpire who became the first female Major League Baseball umpire when she debuted on August 9, 2025. She is the seventh woman to work as a professional baseball umpire.[2] When called up to MLB, she wears uniform number 95.[3]

Early life

Attending West Milford High School in West Milford, New Jersey, Pawol played soccer and softball, attending Hofstra University on an athletic scholarship and playing as a catcher in Division I softball for the Pride. It was during this time that she began umpiring softball games.[4] She was paid $15 per game.[5]

In 2001, she was part of the gold medal winning United States team (the precursor to the United States women's national baseball team) in the Women's Baseball World Series, which was the first recognized international women's baseball tournament.[1]

Before going into professional umpiring, Pawol was an art teacher. She is a graduate of the Pratt Institute (B.F.A.) and Hunter College (M.F.A.). During this time, she continued to umpire part-time in amateur softball leagues.[6]

Umpiring career

Minor leagues

After umpiring softball games part-time for 11 years, Pawol decided to go into umpiring full-time. In 2016, she attended the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Florida. Her performance at the academy led to a spot in the MiLB Advanced Course which she completed in 2017. That same year, she began her professional baseball career in the Gulf Coast League.[7]

During the 2023 season, she worked at the Triple-A level in both the International League and the Pacific Coast League, and was the home plate umpire during the Triple-A National Championship Game. She was the first female umpire to work at the Triple-A level in 34 years.[8]

In 2024, Pawol became the third woman to umpire in spring training, after Pam Postema and Ria Cortesio.[9] Pawol calls both Postema and Cortesio her mentors.[10] She was the third base umpire during a game between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals.[11] She was a crew chief in Triple-A during the 2024 baseball season.[12] In March, it was reported that Pawol was placed on Major League Baseball's call-up list for the 2024 season, meaning that she could be called up to the majors in the event a full-time Major League umpire is not available.[13] She was selected to work spring training again in 2025.[3]

Major League Baseball

On August 9, 2025, Pawol made her MLB debut, becoming the first woman to umpire an MLB game.[14] She appeared as the first base umpire in the first game of a doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, joining crew chief Chris Guccione at second base, Chad Whitson at third and David Rackley at home plate.[15] She continued in the role of home plate umpire on Sunday, August 10.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Grant, Tracy (December 25, 2024). "Jen Pawol". Britannica. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Augustine, Gabrielle. "Pawol breaking umpire barriers". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
  3. ^ a b "Five umpires receive promotions to the Major League staff". MLB.com. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  4. ^ Heaphy, Leslie. "Professional Woman Umpires". Society for American Baseball Research. She played soccer and softball at West Milford High School (New Jersey) before getting a scholarship to play at Hofstra from 1995-1998. Pawol earned All-American honors as a catcher, hitting .332 with 102 RBIs. She umpired for fast-pitch softball as well as being an NCAA Division I postseason umpire. She also umpired in the Big Ten Conference from 2013 to 2015.
  5. ^ Kepner, Tyler (August 7, 2025). "Sliders: Jen Pawol's perseverance, support network have her ready to make MLB umpiring history". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Heaphy, Leslie. "Professional Woman Umpires". Society for American Baseball Research. Pawol is also an artist. She earned her BFA from the Pratt Institute and then an MFA from Hunter College. When she was not umpiring in previous years she also worked part-time as an eighth grade art teacher.
  7. ^ Hill, Benjamin (June 22, 2016). "Pawol continues legacy behind the plate". MiLB.com.
  8. ^ Heneghan, Kelsie (September 30, 2023). "Female umpire Jen Pawol to work home plate in Triple-A championship". MLB.com.
  9. ^ Kreuz, Julia (February 12, 2024). "Pawol to be first woman to umpire MLB Spring Training games since 2007". MLB.com.
  10. ^ Ghiroli, Brittany (May 24, 2024). "Jen Pawol to become third woman to umpire MLB spring training games". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  11. ^ "Jen Pawol becomes first woman to umpire spring game since 2007". ESPN.com. Associated Press.
  12. ^ Rogers, Jesse (February 12, 2024). "Jen Pawol one call away from being first woman MLB umpire". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Axisa, Mike (March 15, 2024). "Jen Pawol close to becoming first female umpire in majors, placed on MLB call-up list for this season". CBS Sports.
  14. ^ a b Murphy, Brian (August 6, 2025). "Pawol to make history as MLB's first female umpire". MLB.com. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  15. ^ "MLB Gameday: Marlins 1, Braves 7 Final Score (08/09/2025)". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.

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