Jen Pawol, former Hofstra softball star, will become MLB's first female umpire
Home plate umpire Jen Pawol takes her position during the first inning of a spring training game between the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins on March 10, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
Jen Pawol, the former Hofstra softball star, will now shine brightest as the first woman in history to umpire a Major League Baseball game.
Pawol, 49, will be promoted from Triple-A for this weekend’s series between the Marlins and Atlanta at Truist Park. She is scheduled to work the bases for Saturday’s doubleheader, then switch to behind the plate for Sunday’s series finale.
In 2024, Pawol became the first woman in 17 years to umpire spring-training games, putting her one step away from making it to the Show as a reserve. But after waiting all last season, Pawol finally got the phone call Wednesday, and it didn’t take long for her to relay the great news to Bill Edwards, the legendary Hofstra softball coach who was ecstatic for his former player.
“She was so pumped,” Edwards said Wednesday in a phone interview. “I’m just so proud of her. She’s worked so hard at this, persevered through so many things that you have to go through to get to this point in Major League Baseball.
“It’s a very big deal, and she’s so deserving of it. I knew she was going to make it, because I knew what kind of student-athlete she was, and how determined she was. Whatever she puts her mind to, she’s going to do an outstanding job with it. All of her persistence, all of her hard work, has paid off for her, which is really, really special.”
Edwards vowed he would be there, whenever Pawol’s promotion came, but he’s committed to a softball camp as one of the main coaches this weekend and is “heartbroken” he must wait for her next stop. But Pawol will have plenty of family and friends in attendance, including Big Ten softball mentor Christie Cornwell, who plans to have t-shirts made for the event.
The NBA has employed women referees since 1997. The NFL had its first woman on-field official in 2015. Women have refereed in the upper tiers of minor league hockey, but the NHL has never had a female referee or linesperson.
In MLB’s 122-year history, only a handful of women have umpired even minor-league games. The most notable have been Pam Postema (1977-89) and Ria Cortesio, who was the last woman before Pawol to umpire a major-league spring training game in 2007.
Pawol was a three-time all-conference catcher at Hofstra before embarking on an umpiring career that began in the NCAA softball ranks, continued through the minors and now will culminate with her dream shot this weekend in Atlanta.
“It’s in my DNA,” Pawol said during spring training in 2024. “Once I started umpiring, I was like, this is for me. I can’t explain it. It’s just in my DNA.”
“This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my congratulations to Jen and her family on this milestone.”
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
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