
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.