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Trailblazing Umpire Jen Pawol Received Clear Message From Astros Manager Joe Espada

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Aug 9, 2025 10:49 AM ET

When veteran minor league umpire Jen Pawol makes history as the first female to work a regular-season game on Saturday afternoon, she’ll don her gear knowing that at least one MLB manager believed in her.

Speaking with The Athletic this week, Pawol shared that Houston Astros manager Joe Espada predicted in spring training that she’d finally reach the big leagues this year. Pawol, a minor league umpire since 2016, is working this weekend’s Marlins-Braves series in Atlanta.

Pawol recalled that Espada, a longtime assistant coach who became the Astros’ manager ahead of the 2024 season, was “so excited” about the possibility of her getting an opportunity.

“It was like the first inning and he said, ‘Jen, Jen, I know this is your year, you’re going to do it. It’s going to happen,’” Pawol said.

“So that’s kind of the enthusiasm that is happening,” she added. “It’s a good time to be in the game.”

Pawol will work the bases during Saturday’s doubleheader before serving as the home plate umpire on Sunday.

It’s been a long road for Pawol, a former Hofstra catcher who later umpired softball games in the Big Ten Conference. She spent 2016-2022 across various minor league levels before moving to Triple-A in 2023; no female umpire had worked a Triple-A game in nearly 35 years.

Pawol is among several minor league umpires eligible for temporary promotions. It is unclear whether she will join an MLB crew on either a part-time or full-time basis next season, or whether she’ll remain on the call-up list.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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