NEW YORK (AP) - Jen Pawol is poised to make history as the first woman to officiate in Major League Baseball (MLB) when she serves as an umpire for games between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves this weekend. Pawol will take the bases in Saturday's doubleheader at Truist Park and will work behind home plate on Sunday, as confirmed by MLB on Wednesday.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed pride in Pawol's achievements, stating, "This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game. She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field."

Pawol, who is 48 years old and hails from New Jersey, has previously worked spring training games in both 2024 and the current year. Her upcoming appearance will also mark her as the fifth umpire to debut in MLB in 2024. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised the league’s progressive steps regarding inclusivity, saying, "Baseball’s done a great job of being completely inclusive. I’ll be watching. It’s good for the game."

This milestone arrives 28 years after the NBA broke gender barriers with female officials, 10 years after the NFL employed its first full-time female official, and three years following the inclusion of a female referee in the men's soccer World Cup. Notably, the NHL still has yet to feature a female on-ice official.

Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman remarked, "I think if she is a good enough umpire, obviously she deserves to be here." Pawol's recent achievements stem from her experience and dedication; in fact, she became the first woman to umpire high-level spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007, who spent nine years in the minor leagues.

Pawol's sports background is impressive; she was an all-state softball and soccer player at West Milford High School in New Jersey and played collegiate softball at Hofstra University. Furthermore, she represented the USA Baseball women's national team in 2001. Following her competitive sports career, she transitioned into umpiring after realizing she wanted to remain involved in sports.

After umpiring NCAA softball from 2010 to 2016, Pawol attended an MLB umpire tryout camp in 2015. She was subsequently invited to the Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Florida, and began her professional career in the Gulf Coast League in 2016.

In her professional development, she has worked various minor league games, including the prestigious 2023 Triple-A championship game. This level of experience has prepared her for this significant moment in her career.

Before Jen Pawol, pioneering female officials have made their marks in other major sports, such as Violet Palmer in the NBA, who broke into officiating during a game on October 31, 1997, and Sarah Thomas in the NFL, who became the first female official in a regular-season game on September 13, 2015. Similarly, Stéphanie Frappart earned recognition in soccer by officiating a men’s World Cup match in December 2022.

MLB employs 76 full-time staff umpires, utilizing fill-ins to cover roles that become vacant due to injuries or vacations, but Pawol's groundbreaking debut stands out as a monumental leap towards greater inclusivity within the sport.

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Walker is a retired AP Baseball Writer.

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AP Sports Writers Beth Harris and Jack Magruder contributed to this report.

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