PEORIA – Sometimes, you don’t need to swing a bat to create a memorable moment.
On Tuesday afternoon at the spring practice field in Arizona, as the referees walked onto the field for the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox, there was a noticeable difference behind the home plate. Standing there was Jen Pawol – the woman who made MLB history.
And before the first pitch was made, Josh Naylor created his own moment.
Last year, Pawol made history by becoming the first woman to referee an official MLB game. On August 9th, she was called to base three in the doubleheader game between the Marlins and the Braves. Just one day later, she broke another barrier by becoming the first female referee to stand behind the home plate in league history.
This spring, Pawol continued to be one of the very few women officiating at Spring Training games. That image was still rare – and generated particular attention at Peoria.
But instead of tension or scrutinizing glances, the first thing Pawol received from Naylor was a handshake.
At the end of the first inning, as the Mariners filled the base with Brendan Donovan’s singles, Cal Raleigh’s walk, and Julio Rodríguez’s shirt-touching, Naylor stepped up to the plate.
Before batting, he turned to Pawol and extended his hand.
The next day in the locker room, Naylor explained simply:
“I just wanted to say hello to everyone back at baseball. I have a good relationship with the referees, so I usually shake their hands and say, ‘Welcome back.’ I hadn’t met her before, so I said, ‘I’m Josh. Nice to meet you. Have a good day.’”
No slogans. No grand pronouncements. Just kindness.
Interestingly, at the time, Naylor didn’t know Pawol was the first woman to officiate in MLB.
“I didn’t know then,” he admitted after the game. “But when I heard people talking about it, I thought it was really great. It was a huge achievement and it changed the game in a very positive way.”
His reaction wasn’t loud surprise – it was genuine appreciation.
Naylor believes this was his first time playing in a game with a female referee behind the home plate. But for him, it didn’t change how he behaved.
“Kindness is easy and free. Why not do it every day?” he said.
The moment may have passed quickly for many. But from the broadcast booth, the commentators saw it clearly. No need for a home run. No need for a spectacular save. Naylor did his part before swinging the bat.
He emphasized:
“I want everyone to feel welcome. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, what language you speak, what gender you are. It’s not hard to be inclusive and friendly. I think that can change the world.”
In a sport that took decades to break down racial and gender barriers, those words resonate more strongly than ever.
Naylor played in Cleveland, where he witnessed the progress of women’s participation in coaching roles. He recounted working with a female hitting coach in the minor league system and always proactively greeting and connecting with her.
For him, inclusion isn’t a slogan – it’s small actions repeated every day.
Seattle is entering the season with high expectations. Names like Julio Rodríguez are being mentioned as faces entering their prime. But sometimes, team culture is shaped not just by superstars, but by very human actions.
Josh Naylor may not have created a highlight moment with that shot.
But he created something far more valuable: a benchmark.
On a court where history had just been written a new chapter, he chose the simplest way to respond – with respect.
And sometimes, that’s the most beautiful shot of the game.
