Jen Pawol will make history as the first female umpire in MLB.

Jen Pawol will make history this weekend as the first woman to officiate in a Major League regular season game.

Pawol will officiate three games in the series between the Marlins and the Braves in Atlanta this weekend, including a doubleheader on Saturday and serving as the home plate umpire for the series finale on Sunday. Due to the doubleheader, a fifth umpire will be added, as each home plate umpire rotates out for one of the games.

“Jen’s historic achievement in baseball reflects her hard work, dedication, and love for the sport,” said MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she sets, especially for all the women and young girls who aspire to take on roles in the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I congratulate Jen and her family.”

Since starting her career in the rookie league in 2016, Pawol has steadily progressed. In 2023, she reached the Triple-A level, becoming the first female umpire to achieve this level in 34 years. In September of that year, she served as the home plate umpire for the Triple-A championship game. In 2024, Pawol became the first woman to officiate in a Major League spring training game since Ria Cortesio in 2007. In 2024, she served as the crew chief for Triple-A umpires and officiated more spring training games in 2025.

“The Major League Umpires Association congratulates Jen Pawol on her historic debut in the Major Leagues,” said the association in a statement. “This moment is not just a personal milestone for Jen; it is also a groundbreaking step for our profession and for the ongoing progress of women in sports. Jen’s achievement is a testament to her skill, dedication, and perseverance. We are proud of Jen for breaking this barrier and look forward to welcoming more women into the umpiring ranks.”

Before transitioning to umpiring, Pawol played fastpitch softball at Hofstra University and in the Amateur Softball Association for ten years. This former catcher officiated college softball games from 2013 to 2015 and served as an umpire in the Big Ten Conference.

“For me personally, I just love this job,” Pawol said in 2016. “I’m passionate about it; it’s a part of me.”

The following year, Pawol attended the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy held in Vero Beach, Florida, and received her first umpiring assignment in the Gulf Coast League (now known as the Florida Complex League). At that time, Pawol was the seventh female umpire in Minor League Baseball history.

Pawol is from New Jersey and is currently one of 17 qualified Triple-A umpires eligible to fill in for games in the Major Leagues.

“Anyone in the baseball community knows that you just have to keep it simple, work hard, and be ready for tomorrow,” Pawol said in 2024. “That’s what I think about every day—getting better before tomorrow.”