MLB Announces New Umpire
Major League Baseball’s continued integration of new technology and its evolving umpiring landscape drew attention this week following a controversial call during a spring training game.
Jen Pawol, who made history in 2025 as the first woman to umpire a regular-season MLB game and later serve as a home plate umpire, found herself at the center of scrutiny during a matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds.
The moment unfolded when Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo delivered a slider to Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. Pawol ruled the pitch a ball.
Cincinnati’s catcher immediately initiated a challenge using MLB’s automated ball-strike (ABS) system, a technology set to play a larger role in the 2026 season. Upon review, the system determined that the pitch had in fact crossed the strike zone, overturning the call.
The first female home plate umpire in MLB history, Jen Pawol, made the worst call you’ll ever seen in a game…
After it was challenged by the catcher, the ABS system showed just how awful it was 😬 pic.twitter.com/uEOrrXBb5G
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) March 20, 2026
The incident highlights the growing influence of ABS technology, which is designed to provide a check on human judgment rather than replace it entirely. Under the challenge system, players—not umpires—initiate reviews, and the technology delivers a near-instant ruling based on precise tracking data.
Missed calls, particularly on borderline pitches, have long been part of baseball. With the introduction of ABS, those moments are now subject to immediate correction, increasing transparency but also placing umpires under intensified scrutiny. Every overturned call becomes more visible, especially in high-profile or historic contexts.
Pawol’s presence in Major League Baseball remains a milestone for the sport, reflecting years of development within professional umpiring ranks. Like all umpires adjusting to the evolving rules and technological systems, her performance is now evaluated within a framework that blends human decision-making with automated precision.
As MLB moves closer to full implementation of the ABS challenge system, incidents like this are expected to become more common—not as anomalies, but as part of a broader transition. The system is intended to improve accuracy without removing the role of umpires, signaling a shift in how the game balances tradition with technological advancement.