Jen Pawol Breaks Barriers: MLB to Witness History as NJ Woman Steps Behind the Plate

This weekend, there will be a wild turn of events on the baseball field that has nothing to do with the players. In Major League Baseball (MLB) history, there was a move that changed the game. There will be a woman at home plate for the first time ever in a big league game. That woman is none other than New Jersey’s own Jen Pawol.

Once just a young girl with a glove and a dream in West Milford, Jen is now making waves nationwide. She’s already worked in the minor leagues, but this Sunday, she steps onto the field at Atlanta’s Truist Park with a whole new kind of spotlight. The Marlins vs. Braves game won’t just be about standings or home runs—it’ll be remembered for who stood behind the catcher. Jen will be the official home plate umpire, after covering the bases the day before.

This moment has been decades in the making—not just for Jen, but for women in sports who’ve often been told where they can and can’t stand. She’s proving that the umpire’s box isn’t off-limits. And while players will swing for the fences, Jen’s very presence will hit differently—it’s a statement, loud and clear.

Her promotion isn’t just symbolic. It’s historic. It says the game is evolving, and Jen Pawol is helping write the next chapter. Baseball fans may come for the teams, but on this day, many will stay for the woman calling the shots.

Sources:
Associated Press
ESPN