Jen Pawol Returns as Home Plate Umpire for Dodgers vs. Angels

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jen Pawol, who made headlines last season as the first female umpire in Major League Baseball, officiated her first game of the season on Friday night. She took her position behind the plate as the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the Los Angeles Angels.

During the bottom of the first inning, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani acknowledged her with a customary greeting, which he extends to umpires before each of his at-bats. At 49 years old, Pawol has made significant strides in her career, having officiated during spring training for three consecutive years, although she has yet to secure a permanent position on a major league staff. Currently, she is included on MLB's call-up list.

Pawol made history on August 9, 2022, becoming the first woman to serve as an umpire in the major leagues, and she officiated five games in her inaugural season. Additionally, she broke new ground in 2024 by becoming the first female umpire to oversee major league spring training games since Ria Cortesio did so in 2007. Since 2016, Pawol has been a minor league umpire and has been working at the Triple-A level since 2023.

The game itself was poised for history early on, as Angels pitcher Reid Detmers held the Dodgers hitless through three innings before Freddie Freeman broke the streak with a single in the fourth. Meanwhile, Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki maintained a no-hitter for four innings before allowing a double to Nick Madrigal in the fifth.