ATLANTA — Jen Pawol breezed through Sunday’s game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves as if breaking a gender barrier was just another day on the job.
Considering Pawol became the first female umpire to work behind the plate in Major League Baseball, making unprecedented history appear to be routine was especially impressive.
“I think Jen did a really nice job,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said after Atlanta’s 7-1 win to close the five-game series between National League East Division teams at Truist Park.
“I think she’s 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’s quite the accomplishment.”
It was an impressive cap to a memorable weekend for Pawol. She made history in Saturday’s doubleheader as the first female umpire to work an MLB regular-season game in the majors. She called the bases in the doubleheader — the opener at first, the nightcap at third — before moving behind the plate on Sunday, placing her in the brightest spotlight for an umpire.