Pawol was among 38 hopefuls invited to the Umpire Training Academy at Vero Beach, Florida, and started her pro umpiring career in the Gulf Coast League on June 24, 2016, working the plate when the GCL Tigers West played at the GCL Blue Jays.

Umpire Jen Pawol discussed her upcoming historic MLB debut during a series between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

In 2024, Pawol became the first woman to umpire MLB spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Cortesio lasted nine years in the minors, spending the last five in the Double-A Southern League, then was released after the 2007 season. Pawol played softball at Division-I Hofstra, where she was a three-time all-conference pick as a catcher.