Pawol Is First Woman To Umpire In MiLB Since 2007

The Gulf Coast League announced on Tuesday that Jen Pawol had been assigned to umpire its games for the 2016 season, making her the first woman to do so since Pam Postema in 1977-78.

She’s the first woman to umpire in the minors since 2007, when Ria Cortesio finished her eighth season.

“Beginning my career as a professional baseball umpire this week is a privilege that goes beyond words,” Pawol said in a release. “I went to the Major League Baseball Umpire Camps and the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy with an open mind, a strong work ethic and a passion for umpiring, and I’m honored to be starting this exciting journey in the Gulf Coast League.”

Pawol is the seventh woman overall to umpire games in the minors. She and her assigned partner, Scott Molloy, will open the season on Friday in Dunedin, Fla., where the Gulf Coast League Tigers and Blue Jays will match up.

“Jen worked extremely hard during the Umpire Training Academy and proved herself during a very competitive Advanced Course to earn this assignment,” Minor League Baseball director of umpire development Dusty Dellinger said. “We are pleased to have someone of her talent joining the professional umpiring ranks and I’m confident she’ll do a great job.”

Pawol was a softball catcher at Hofstra and played for the USA Baseball Women’s National Team. She has a master’s degree from Hunter College and has umpired softball games professionally since 2006, including work in the Big Ten Conference.