Jen Pawol will take a big step toward breaking the gender barrier for Major League Baseball umpires on Saturday when she becomes the first woman to work a big league spring training game in 17 years. The 47-year-old will work the bases during Houston’s exhibition against Washington in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is among 24 minor league umpires assigned full-time as fill-ins at big league spring training. Last year, 21 of the 26 umps assigned full spring training schedules were picked for the in-season call-up list. Ria Cortesio was the previous woman to umpire spring training games in 2007.