Umpire Jen Pawol’s first MLB game behind the plate went about as expected for a rookie.<\/b>
\nUmpire Jen Pawol\u2019s first MLB game behind the plate went about as expected for a rookie.
The major leagues\u2019 first female umpire, who made her debut on the bases during Saturday\u2019s Braves-Marlins doubleheader, called 92.72 percent of balls and strikes accurately during Sunday\u2019s series finale, getting 140 of the 151 taken pitches accurate, according to UmpScorecards.
The umpire average for the 2025 season is 94.23 percent, per UmpScorecard data.
Pawol\u2019s called ball accuracy was 95 percent, with five of 104 balls called inaccurately; the average is 97 percent, per UmpScorecards.
Her called strike accuracy was 88 percent, with six of 47 strikes called inaccurately; the average is 88 percent.
\u201cI think Jen did a really nice job,\u201d Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said after his team\u2019s 7-1 loss on Sunday.
\u201cI think she\u2019s very composed back there. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her. Big day for Major League Baseball. I congratulated her again on that because it\u2019s quite the accomplishment.\u201d
Pawol, 48, is a West Milford, N.J., native who played softball at Hofstra. She has more than 1,200 minor league games on her r\u00e9sum\u00e9 across the last 10 seasons.
She received support from Braves fans in Atlanta when she made history on Saturday.
\u201cIt was amazing when we took the field,\u201d Pawol said. \u201cIt seemed like quite a few people were clapping and calling my name. That was pretty intense and emotional.\u201d
Pawol worked first base during the first game of Saturday\u2019s doubleheader and third base for the second game.
\u201cShe did a good job,\u201d Braves manager Brian Snitker said Saturday. \u201cYou can tell she knows what she does.\u201d
Pawol is a rover called up from the minors, so her next MLB assignment is unclear.<\/p>\n