Jen Pawol made history Saturday when she made her MLB officiating debut as a third baseman during the Nationals’ spring training game against the Astros, becoming the first woman to officiate a spring training game since 2007.
Pawol, who graduated from Minor League Baseball’s umpiring camp in 2016, was the home plate umpire for Sunday’s game between the Marlins and the Nationals and is expected to serve at other spring training games in the coming weeks. .
It’s unclear whether she will be promoted to the MLB game.
But if that happens, Pawol would become the first woman to officiate an MLB game.
“Thank you so much for everyone’s enthusiasm. Your welcoming attitude on the field tonight was very, very special,” Pawol said Saturday. According to MLB.com. “Both managers congratulated me and made me feel welcome. [umpiring] Partner, player. I already knew a lot of the players on the field, and a lot of them said, “Congratulations, it’s great to see you here.” ”
The last woman to officiate a spring training game was Lea Cortesio.
Pawal made her professional debut in the Gulf Coast League on June 24, 2016, and later became the seventh woman to be called up to a minor league game, according to the Association for American Baseball Research.
2017 caps and masks Already in the Baseball Hall of Fametoo.
Last year, she also took to the plate in the Triple-A National Championship game. calling it that “The highlight of my refereeing career so far”
Umpire Lance Barksdale, who served as team chief Saturday, said he will recall a “special” experience for Pawal, who is from New Jersey and attended West Milford High School.
“That was one of my memorable games,” he said. “I’ll always remember my first World Series, my first All-Star Game, and everything else, but tonight will be a special time for me to remember the time I shared with her on the field.”
Pawol is an artist who played collegiate softball at Hostela, holds degrees from Pratt Institute and Hunter College, and has worked as a part-time eighth-grade art teacher, according to multiple media outlets.
