Jen Pawol is an American baseball umpire who made history on August 9, 2025, by becoming the first woman to officiate a regular-season Major League Baseball game. She grew up on Long Island, New York, where she excelled in softball and soccer during high school. Pawol went on to play Division I softball as a catcher at Hofstra University before shifting her focus toward art.
Her umpiring career began in amateur softball, where she spent more than a decade before deciding to pursue the profession seriously. In 2016, she attended MLB’s Umpire Training Academy and began working in the Gulf Coast League the following year. Over time, she steadily rose through the ranks of Minor League Baseball.
In 2023, she became the first female umpire in 34 years to officiate at the Triple-A level, even working the Triple-A National Championship Game. Pawol also umpired Major League Baseball spring training games in 2024 and 2025, becoming just the third woman to do so.
Her MLB debut came during a doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. In the first game, she served as the first base umpire. Two days later, she took on the highly visible role of home plate umpire, calling balls and strikes. Her performance was met with standing ovations from fans and praise from players and managers alike
Age and Height
Age
Jen Pawol was born on December 29, 1976, which makes her 48 years old as of August 2025.
Height
She stands approximately 5 feet 4 inches (about 163 cm) tall. While her modest stature once raised doubts about sightlines on the field, her exceptional positioning and precision proved that height is no barrier to officiating excellence.
Early Life and Family
Jen Pawol was raised in West Milford, New Jersey. Her mother, Victoria Pawol, passed away when Jen was young, which forged a close bond between her and her father, Jim Pawol. The family’s love for baseball infused her upbringing; her father supported her passion from a young age and they often bonded over the game. This kindled the spark that would later guide her umpiring journey.
Education and Qualifications
Pawol attended West Milford High School, where she excelled in softball and soccer (football), earning all-state honors. Her talent earned her a scholarship to Hofstra University, where she played Division I softball as a catcher. In 2001, she also represented the United States on the Women’s National Baseball Team during the inaugural Women’s Baseball World Series.
Pursuing her creative side, Pawol completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) at Pratt Institute and then a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from Hunter College, concentrating in painting. Even as she launched her career as an art teacher, she continued umpiring part-time in amateur softball leagues—earning just $15 a game—until her passion compelled her to enroll in MLB’s Umpire Training Academy in 2016.
Umpiring Career
Beginnings in Amateur and College Officiating
Pawol began her umpiring journey in high school, volunteering to officiate local games, where a single-umpire system taught her early grit and adaptability. She umpired NCAA softball from 2010 to 2016, gradually building reputation and experience.
Professional Training and Minor Leagues
In 2015, at a Southern umpire camp, MLB umpire Ted Barrett noticed her potential and encouraged her to attend a tryout clinic. That led to a scholarship to MLB’s prestigious Umpire Training Academy in 2016 in Vero Beach, Florida. She advanced through the MiLB Umpire Advanced Course, beginning her professional career in the Gulf Coast League in 2016.
Her progression through the minor leagues was methodical and relentless:
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2017: New York–Penn League
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2018: Midwest League
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2019: South Atlantic League
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2021: High-A Midwest League
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2023: Double-A (Eastern League) and Triple-A (International & Pacific Coast Leagues)
Notably, in 2023, she became the first woman in 34 years to umpire at the Triple-A level, including serving behind home plate in the Triple-A National Championship Game.
Read Also: Robbie Brewer Wikipedia, Biography, Age, Career, Net Worth, Wife, Family
Spring Training Assignments
In 2024, Jen Pawol became only the third woman ever to umpire in an MLB spring training game (following Pam Postema and Ria Cortesio). She worked third base in a game between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals. She was on MLB’s call-up list in both 2024 and 2025, making her visible as a fill-in umpire.
MLB Debut and Historic Breakthrough
On August 9, 2025, during a Marlins-Braves doubleheader at Truist Park, Jen Pawol shattered barriers by serving as the first-base umpire, becoming the first woman ever to officiate an MLB regular-season game. The following day, Sunday, she took the home plate position—calling balls and strikes—earning acclaim for her composure and authority behind the plate.
Her performance was widely praised: Marlins manager Clayton McCullough lauded her professionalism. Fans gave her standing ovations, and her journey was celebrated as a milestone for inclusion in sports. Longtime umpires and pioneers such as Pam Postema, Christine Wren, and Ria Cortesio were credited by Pawol as mentors and inspirations. Upon receiving the call-up, she described feeling like a “fully charged battery ready to go” — a surge of emotion tied to years of dedication.
Major Achievements & Stats
Jen Pawol’s career is punctuated by milestones that capture her steady ascent:
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First woman in 34 years to umpire at the Triple-A level (2023)
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One of only three women to umpire MLB spring training games (2024, 2025)
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Historic MLB debut: first female umpire in a regular-season MLB game (August 9–10, 2025)
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Officiated in over 1,200 minor league games prior to MLB debut
While traditional umpire “stats” like accuracy percentage or games managed per season aren’t publicly available, her trajectory—marked by consistent promotions, high-stakes assignments, and peer recognition—speaks volumes.
Salary and Net Worth
Though Jen Pawol’s exact salary and net worth remain undisclosed, estimates based on MLB umpire earnings suggest that full-time umpires earn between $350,000 and $450,000 annually, with additional income from postseason assignments and bonuses. As a call-up and spring training fill-in rather than a full-time crew member, her current earnings likely fall below that range, but her historic role and future potential might significantly elevate her compensation.
Her net worth figures aren’t publicly reported; however, her long-term career in umpiring—combined with prior teaching and art credentials—suggest a modest financial foundation with the potential for growth.
Husband and Personal Life
Jen Pawol maintains a private personal life. There is no public confirmation that she is married or in a relationship, and she has not disclosed any spouse or partner. Her discretion is noted as a reflection of her preference to let her professionalism and on-field performance define her public persona.
Beyond umpiring, her personal interests include painting, yoga, and golf—pursuits aligned with her art background and personal wellness.
Personal Life & Influence
Raised in the wake of personal loss, Pawol found solace and strength in baseball, art, and the supportive relationships around her. Her mother’s early passing and subsequent relationship with her father fostered a resilience that carried through her career.
Outside the diamond, she channels her creativity and discipline into her art and personal pursuits. She remains grounded, citing her “DNA” connection to umpiring—a calling that transitioned naturally from her playing days behind the plate. Her humility is evident: she focuses on each next call, not glory or headlines.
Conclusion
Jen Pawol Biography—Written into the annals of baseball history—captures a narrative of quiet strength, relentless pursuit, and landmark achievement. From high school fields in New Jersey to the bright lights of Truist Park, she etched her name as MLB’s first female umpire, symbolizing a seismic shift in a traditionally gendered domain. Her trajectory from NCAA softball and art studios to spring training and the major leagues exemplifies dedication. While many details of her personal life remain private, her public legacy—of resilience, equity, and excellence—resonates far beyond the strike zone. She opens doors and invites future generations, particularly women, to step forward with confidence: the path, though challenging, is possible.
FAQs
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Who is Jen Pawol?
Jen Pawol is an American baseball umpire who, on August 9, 2025, became the first woman to officiate a regular-season MLB game. -
How old is Jen Pawol?
As of August 2025, Jen Pawol is 48 years old, having been born on December 29, 1976. -
How tall is Jen Pawol?
She is approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall. -
What is Jen Pawol’s background before professional umpiring?
She played Division I softball at Hofstra University, earned a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute and an M.F.A. from Hunter College, and worked as an art teacher while umpiring part-time in softball leagues. -
When did she begin her professional umpiring career?
After attending an MLB umpire tryout camp in 2015, she joined the Umpire Training Academy in 2016 and began umpiring professionally in the Gulf Coast League. -
What major career milestones did she achieve before her MLB debut?
In 2023, she became the first woman in 34 years to umpire at the Triple-A level; in 2024, she was one of only three women to officiate an MLB spring training game; and on August 9–10, 2025, she debuted in a regular-season MLB game. -
Is Jen Pawol married?
There is no public information confirming whether she is married or has a partner. She keeps her personal life private. -
What is her estimated net worth and salary?
Her exact salary and net worth are unknown. MLB full-time umpires typically earn $350,000–$450,000 annually, but as a call-up umpire, her current earnings are likely below that range. -
What significance does her debut hold?
It represents a historic breakthrough in gender representation in professional sports officiating, inspiring current and future women to pursue umpiring at all levels. -
What are her interests outside baseball?
She enjoys painting, yoga, and golf—interests reflecting her artistic training and commitment to wellness.
