Pawol makes MLB history as first female umpire

Jen Pawol becomes the first woman to umpire a regular-season MLB game, marking a historic moment for the sport.

Jen Pawol makes MLB history as first female umpire

In Atlanta, Jen Pawol served as the first base umpire in a Braves versus Marlins doubleheader, a milestone for Major League Baseball. Her duties included a foreign-substance check on Hurston Waldrep after the first inning and a close call on a play involving Sean Murphy, which drew reaction from players and fans alike.

Pawol has spent years in the minor leagues since 2016 and previously worked NCAA softball umpires. Her schedule for the twin bill shows a path toward more assignments, with a third-base role slated for the night game and a plate appearance for Sunday in the series finale. The moment was greeted with warmth from the Braves and Marlins camps and underscored by a large media presence and crowd interest.

This milestone signals MLB’s willingness to broaden opportunities within its officiating ranks and could shift how the league talks about gender in sports leadership. It also tests the field of play for lasting effects, including how teams prepare, how fans respond, and how future appointments are handled.

Looking ahead, the key question is whether more women will follow Pawol’s path from the minor leagues to the majors, and whether the focus will remain on skill or shift toward institutional change. The moment is as much about culture as it is about a single game, and sponsors as well as leagues will watch closely to gauge long-term impact.

Highlights

The field keeps expanding as fresh voices join the game.