Spring training will take on a whole new look this week: For the first time in nearly 20 years, a female umpire will work a major-league exhibition game.

Ria Cortesio, set to start the season in Double-A, will be on the bases Thursday for a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said Monday night. “There will be a lot more people in the stands than I’m used to.”

Pam Postema was the last woman to work big-league exhibitions, back in 1989. She was in spring training for two years before getting released. Cortesio is the only female umpire in professional baseball. At 30, she is starting her ninth year overall and fifth in Double-A.

“It’s awesome,” Cubs star Derrek Lee said Monday. “I think it’s about time. Female eyes are as good as male eyes. Why can’t they be umpires? Good for her.”

Triple-A and Double-A umpires routinely join major league crews in spring training, especially when extra games fill the schedule.

“I was kind of expecting it,” Cortesio said. “Umpires with my seniority usually get picked.”

Cortesio has been working minor-league exhibition games in Arizona this month. In a few days, she’ll move up to HoHoKam Park when a Diamondbacks split squad plays Chicago.

Cubs reliever Scott Eyre liked the idea.

“She’s doing our game? Oh, cool,” he said. “How do I feel about it? I could care less. If she can call a game, she can call a game.”

“If she rings somebody up for me, I don’t care. You know what I mean? I wouldn’t have a problem with it,” he said.

Cortesio started her umpiring career in the Pioneer League and was later in the Midwest and Florida State leagues.