In a significant milestone for gender equality in Major League Baseball, Jen Pawol is set to make history as the first woman to work a big league spring training game in 17 years. The 47-year-old umpire from New Jersey will be stationed at the bases during the exhibition game between Houston and Washington in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Pawol is part of a group of 24 minor league umpires who have been assigned full-time roles as fill-ins for big league spring training. Last year, 21 out of the 26 umpires with full spring training schedules were selected for in-season call-ups.
Ria Cortesio was the last woman to umpire spring training games back in 2007. After spending nine years in the minor leagues, including five in the Double-A Southern League, Cortesio was released following the 2007 season.
Pawol's journey in umpiring began in the Gulf Coast League in 2016, progressing to the New York/Penn League in 2017, and earning a promotion to the Midwest League after the first two weeks of the 2018 season. She has since worked in various leagues, including the South Atlantic League in 2019, the High-A Midwest League in 2021, and the Double-A Eastern League and the Triple-A International and Pacific Coast Leagues last year.
Reflecting on her transition from being a college softball player at Hofstra to becoming an umpire, Pawol emphasized the unique challenge of striving for perfection in every call. She likened the pressure of umpiring to hitting a perfect score every night, highlighting the intensity and excitement of the role.
Major League Baseball's decision to include Pawol in spring training games marks a significant step forward in breaking gender barriers for game officials. This move comes 27 years after the NBA broke the gender barrier for game officials, nine years after the NFL followed suit, and two years after a female referee officiated in the men's soccer World Cup.
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