Baseball history will be made this weekend when Jen Pawol steps onto the field at Truist Park as the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game. The 48-year-old from New Jersey will work the bases during Saturday’s doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves, then take her place behind home plate on Sunday—a moment that represents the culmination of nearly a decade-long journey through professional baseball’s ranks.
From Art Teacher to Baseball Pioneer
Pawol’s path to the major leagues is as unique as it is inspiring. A graduate of both the Pratt Institute (B.F.A.) and Hunter College (M.F.A.), she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in painting in 2005, and even created a series of paintings depicting versions of the strike zone. While working as an art teacher in upstate New York, she continued to nurture her passion for baseball by umpiring softball games.
Her athletic background runs deep. Pawol played soccer and softball at West Milford High School in New Jersey before earning a scholarship to play at Hofstra from 1995-1998, where she earned All-American honors as a catcher, hitting .332 with 102 RBIs. She even participated in the Women’s Baseball World Series as a member of the United States women’s national baseball team in 2001.
Climbing the Professional Ladder
Pawol began her affiliated career in Rookie ball, umpiring in the Gulf Coast League (now known as the Florida Complex League) and becoming the seventh female umpire in Minor League Baseball history when she made her debut on June 24, 2016. She followed in the footsteps of pioneering women like Bernice Gera (1972), Christine Wren (1975-77), Pam Postema (1977-89), Theresa Cox Fairlady (1989-91), and Ria Cortesio.
Pawol had been umpiring amateur baseball and softball for 10 years before making her pro debut, building her skills through New York’s Endicott Umpires Chapter and later the Central Florida Officials Association, working college softball games that created “a pathway of opportunity to the Big 10”.
The Road to the Majors
Her breakthrough moment came in spring training 2024, when she became the first woman to umpire a spring training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007, working first, second, and third bases during the Grapefruit League opener between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals on February 24. She continued this role in spring training 2025, steadily proving her capabilities at baseball’s highest level.
Making History
This weekend’s games represent more than just a personal achievement for Pawol—they mark a significant milestone for gender equality in professional sports. Almost 45 years after Bernice Gera paved the road for other women by working one game, Pawol graduated from umpire school and earned her place in professional baseball.
For Pawol, the focus remains on the craft itself. “For me, personally, I just love doing the job”, she has said, embodying the dedication and passion that has carried her from art classrooms to the pinnacle of professional baseball.
As she takes the field this weekend, Pawol won’t just be calling balls and strikes—she’ll be opening doors for future generations of women in baseball, proving that with skill, determination, and perseverance, any barrier can be broken.
