SPOILER: She’s been horrendous.According to season-long data from UmpScorecards, who measures every called ball and strike against MLB's Statcast strike zone, grading umpires on overall accuracy, consistency and how they perform relative to the expected difficulty of the pitches they call, Pawol currently ranks 89th out of 91 qualified MLB umpires in overall ball-and-strike accuracy.Yikes.THREE OF THE WORST-RATED UMPIRES IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMONHome plate umpire Jen Pawol officiates the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on June 9, 2026.
(Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)She owns a 91.8% overall accuracy rate, a 93.1% consistency rating, and an accuracy-above-expected mark of -1.6%.Her ranking has drawn additional attention because she has also been involved in several high-profile games that featured controversial strike-zone decisions.Pawol had an abysmal start to her game behind the plate on Sunday, June 16, between the St.Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins.
She had three ball calls overturned in the top of the first inning alone.(WARNING: Language)Pawol’s very first strike call, in her first MLB game behind the plate, was also terrible.Here’s a challenge from a 2026 spring training game between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians where the broadcaster not so subtly trolled Pawol saying, "The call is overturned on a pitch that was right down the middle of the plate that was called a ball."ORIOLES LOSE CONTROVERSIAL CHALLENGE AFTER COBY MAYO UNINTENTIONALLY TRIGGERS REVIEWThe most recent controversy came between the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays on July 13, where she didn’t allow Padres’ Sung-Mun Song to challenge a called strike and shortly after, Pawol called a balk to force in a run for the Padres.Umpire Jen Pawol looks on during the first inning of the game between the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park in San Diego, ...