Braves-Marlins Series To Have First Woman MLB Umpire
Jen Pawol will become the first woman umpire to take to the field in an MLB game when the Marlins face the Braves in a three-game series on Aug. 9-10.
unbranded – Sport
New Jersey’s Jen Pawol is set for her MLB debut this weekend as the first female to umpire a regular-season game in league history when she works a three-series Marlins vs Braves matchup kicking off Saturday, Aug. 9.
Pawol, 48, one of the most decorated athletes in West Milford High School history, will work the bases in the Aug. 9 doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves, and behind home plate calling balls and strikes in the Aug. 10 series finale, the MLB said.
While the NFL and NBA have had female officials for years, and even the men’s World Cup soccer tournament, this will be an MLB first.
Here’s what to know, from Pawol’s background to how to tune into to her first few games.
Jen Pawol background
Jennifer Pawol was born in 1976 and is 48-years-old. She attended West Milford High School in Passaic County, New Jersey, where she was a two-time All-State softball and soccer player. She graduated from WMHS in 2015, and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022, per ESPN.
Pawol attended Hofstra on a softball scholarship, becoming a three-time all-conference softball selection pick. While umpiring NCAA softball between 2010 and 2016, she was approached at a camp by then-big league ump Ted Barrett, who told ESPN this week Pawol’s willingness to learn and her ability to aborb information like a “sponge” made her standout.
Pawol has continously climbed up the ranks since 2016, when she attended Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in 2016. She began her professional career in the then-Gulf Coast League in 2016, and later worked as the first female at the Triple-A level in 34 years.
When is Jen Pawol’s first game?
Jen Pawol will make her MLB debut on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 in a doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. She will work the bases in both games. On Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, Pawol will officiate behind home base calling strikes and balls in the Marlins vs Braves series finale.
What time is Braves vs Marlins game?
The Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves will play a doubleheader on Aug. 9 and a series finale on Aug. 10. Here are the times:
Game 1: Saturday, Aug. 9, 1:15 p.m. EasternGame 2: Saturday, Aug. 9, 7:15 p.m. EasternGame 3: Sunday, Aug. 10, 1:35 p.m. EasternWhere to watch Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves Aug. 9
The first game on Saturday, Aug. 9, between the Marlins and Braves, starting at 1:15 p.m. Eastern, will air on MLB Network for out-of-market areas, such as New Jersey. Many cable packages and streaming platforms offer the channel, including Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV. You can also watch on MLB.TV.
The second game in the doubleheader, at 7:15 p.m. Eastern, will only air outside local markets on MLB.TV.
Where to watch Marlins vs. Braves Aug. 10
The Marlins vs. Braves game on Sunday, Aug. 10, the series finale, will only air in local markets or on MLB.TV in outside markets, such as New Jersey.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.