Jen Pawol to Make Baseball History as MLB’s First Female Umpire

Jen Pawol will make history as the first female umpire in MLB when the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves face off this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10.

The New Jersey native, 48, will be at the bases during the doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Truist Park in Atlanta. On Sunday, Aug. 10, she’ll call balls and strikes behind the plate, MLB told the Associated Press.

In 2024, Powell became the first woman to umpire spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007.

“This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement from MLB. He added that the professional sports league “are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field.”

The umpire began her athletic career as an all-state softball and soccer player for three seasons in each sport at West Milford High School in West Milford, N.J. She attended Hofstra University on a softball scholarship, where she became a three-time all-conference pick, and was a member of the USA Baseball women’s national baseball team in 2001.

Pawol went on to earn a master’s degree and was living in the Binghamton, N.Y., area and taking teacher certification classes at Elmira College while playing ball on the side.

After umpiring National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) softball from 2010 to 2016, Pawol attended an MLB umpire tryout camp in 2015. She was subsequently invited to the Umpire Training Academy at Vero Beach, Fla., and was offered a job in the Gulf Coast League in 2016, per the AP.

In 2024, she made her MLB debut umpiring spring training games. She was the first female umpire to do so since Ria Cortesio in 2007.

“For me, personally, I just love doing the job,” Pawol told MLB in 2016. “I’m passionate about it, and it’s just part of who I am.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

MLB maintains 76 full-time staff umpires and uses fill-ins on crews for openings due to injuries or vacations.

“Anybody in baseball will tell you that you’ve just got to keep it simple, keep working hard, put your all into it and get ready for the next day,” Pawol said in 2024, per MLB. “That’s all I think about every day — get better before tomorrow.”