Jen Pawol, who made history as the first woman umpire in Major League Baseball, was behind the plate for the Angels-Dodgers game on Friday night. This marks another significant moment in her pioneering career.

Trailblazing in Major League Baseball

Pawol, 49, has been a minor league umpire since 2016 and has worked at Triple-A since 2023. She became the first woman to umpire big league spring training games in 2024, a feat not accomplished since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Her major league debut came on August 9, 2025, and she officiated five big league games last season.

Despite her groundbreaking achievements, Pawol has not yet secured a permanent position on the MLB staff. She continues to be part of MLB’s call-up list, officiating games as needed. Her experience includes working with the automated balls and strikes challenge system, which she first encountered on April 17 during a game between the Giants and the Nationals.

Friday Night’s Game Highlights

During Friday’s game, Pawol was part of a potentially historic event. Angels starter Reid Detmers pitched three hitless innings before allowing a single to Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki maintained a no-hit performance through four innings, only to give up a double to Nick Madrigal in the fifth.

As the game unfolded, Dodgers’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani greeted Pawol at the plate, a customary gesture he extends to umpires during his at-bats. This moment underscored the respect and recognition Pawol has earned in the league.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.