Jen Pawol, first female MLB umpire, will work spring training

TAMPA, Fla. -- Former Hofstra softball star Jen Pawol, who became the first woman to umpire an MLB game last season, will return to those duties on the 27-person staff for this year’s spring training, her third in that role.

Pawol, 49, broke MLB’s gender barrier on Aug. 9 as the first-base umpire for a game between Marlins and Atlanta at Truist Park. She worked a total of five MLB games as a call-up last season before returning to the minors.

Two years ago, Pawol was the first woman to umpire major-league spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Pawol broke into the minors in 2016 and has been at the Triple-A level since 2023.

Pawol was not hired for two of MLB’s full-time vacancies this year. Those jobs went to Tom Hanahan, 35, who has worked 329 MLB games as a call-up umpire since 2023, and Brian Walsh, 41, who has 339 on his resume since ’23. Both have worked in the minors since 2015.

Mark Carlson, 56, and Phil Cuzzi, 70, are no longer on MLB’s active umpiring roster. Carlson, who umpired for 26 1/2 seasons, was named to MLB’s group of Umpire Supervisors, to assist in a training and evaluating capacity. Cuzzi worked 27 seasons and was behind the plate for a pair of no-hitters, by the Cardinals’ Bud Smith (2001) and the Phillies’ Cole Hamels (2015).

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

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.