Sometimes the best moments in sports aren't home runs or diving catches. Sometimes they're just one person treating another person with respect.
That's what happened Tuesday at spring training when Cleveland first baseman Josh Naylor stepped up to bat and greeted trailblazing umpire Jen Pawol before settling into the batter's box. It was a small gesture, but in a moment that was making history, it was exactly right.
Pawol is the first woman umpire in Major League Baseball history, calling balls and strikes for a Seattle Mariners spring training game. And Naylor? He just treated her like he'd treat any other ump - with a friendly hello and a smile.
"It's not hard to be inclusive and welcoming and happy," Naylor told Seattle Sports 710 afterward. "I think it could change the world."
Let me tell you something, folks - that quote right there? That's the whole story. You don't need to make a big speech. You don't need to pat yourself on the back. You just treat people with dignity and respect, and let them do their jobs.
Pawol has been working her way up through the minor leagues for years, calling games in the Florida State League, the Double-A Texas League, and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. She's earned this opportunity the same way every other umpire has - by being good at her job.
And now she's made MLB history.
The fact that we're in 2026 and this is just happening now tells you everything about how slow baseball has been to change. But hey, better late than never, right?
