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NY Post
New York Post
25 Feb 2024


NextImg:Jen Pawol becomes first woman to umpire spring training game since 2007

Jen Pawol made history Saturday during a spring training game between the Nationals and the Astros, as she made her MLB umpiring debut — at third base — and became the first woman to umpire a spring training game since 2007.

Pawol, who graduated from minor league baseball’s umpire camp in 2016, was also the home plate umpire for the Marlins-Nationals game Sunday, and she’s expected to work other spring training games over the next few weeks.

It’s unknown if she will be promoted to work an MLB game.

But if she does, Pawol will become the first woman to ever umpire a game in the MLB.

Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire a Spring Training game since 2007 Jennifer Lett / USA TODAY NETWORK

“I greatly appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm, everyone’s welcoming attitude on the field tonight was very, very special,” Pawol said Saturday, according to MLB.com. “Both managers shared congratulations and were welcoming, along with my [umpiring] partners, the players. I knew a lot of the players on the field already and so many said ‘Congrats, great to see you up here.’”

The last woman to umpire a spring training game was Ria Cortesio. 

Pawol made her pro debut in the Gulf Coast League on June 24, 2016, and she later became the seventh woman to call a minor league game, according to the Society of American Baseball Research.

Her cap and mask from 2017 have already been stored in the Baseball Hall of Fame, too.

Last year, she also worked behind the plate for the Triple-A National Championship game, calling it the “highlight of my umpiring career so far.”

Umpire Lance Barksdale, who was the crew chief Saturday, said he’ll remember the “special” experience for Pawol — a New Jersey native who attended West Milford High School.

MLB umpire Jen Pawol in a black shirt laughing with fellow umpires Edwin Jimenez, Lance Blacksdale and Ryan Additon during spring training.
Pawol made her professional debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2016 USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“It was one of those games I’ll remember,” he said. “You always remember your first World Series, first All-Star Game and all that, but it will be a special time for me to remember this time I got to share with her on the field tonight.”

Pawol played collegiate softball at Hostra and also has degrees from the Pratt Institute and Hunter College, and she’s an artist who has worked as a part-time eighth-grade art teacher, according to multiple outlets.