‘It’s like a movie:' Josue De Paula embraces spotlight in Los Angeles

"Just wait until we get back to LA," he recalled Roberts telling him. "It's different."

Sure enough, the raucous 48,000 fans -- a light crowd by Dodger Stadium standards -- packed inside Chavez Ravine for his home debut on Friday, Sept. 18 surpassed whatever the rookie's expectations were. Everything, from the environment to the deafening cheers that only seemed to grow louder as the Dodgers slugged their way to an 8-2 win over the hated rival San Francisco Giants , to the air itself, felt different.

De Paula, 21, has played his role perfectly through his first week in the big leagues.