Jen Pawol to Umpire Historic MLB Series

Jen Pawol is set to become the first woman to umpire a regular-season Major League Baseball game, working three games between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park this weekend. She will umpire the bases during Saturday’s doubleheader and serve as home plate umpire on Sunday. Pawol, a 48-year-old New Jersey native, previously umpired NCAA softball, spent nearly a decade in the minors, and played for the USA Baseball women's national team. She holds a master’s degree in fine arts and had a successful collegiate softball career at Hofstra. MLB managers and officials have praised the league’s commitment to inclusivity, citing Pawol’s milestone as a positive step for the sport. Pawol is also among 17 Triple-A umpires eligible to fill in for MLB games and was the first woman since 2007 to umpire MLB spring training games.