There’s nothing more exciting for a baseball player than his Major League debut.

Former Chatsworth High School star Matt Dominguez was called up by the Florida Marlins last week and his parents flew down to Miami for the special occasion.

Matt’s father, Fernando, is a copy editor on the Los Angeles Times sports desk. He wrote a story Tuesday about watching his son play for the first time in the majors against the New York Mets:

“Seeing Matt trot out to his position was a familiar image for us, but somehow it wasn’t quite the same. This being the highest level of professional baseball, Mom’s heart raced a little faster and Dad’s foot tapped furiously.

Soon, we experienced one of those special moments we came for. In his first at-bat, in the second inning, Matt sent a knuckleball from the Mets’ R.A. Dickey into center field for his first major league hit, and we were there to watch as the ball was retrieved and tossed to the Marlins’ bench for safekeeping.

Matt, who never gets too high or too low on the field or afterward, stood at first base smiling broadly while we burst with pride.

At dinner afterward, we talked, laughed — and let him pick up the check.

As we parted ways, I remembered calling Matt when he was in the minor leagues and asking him what he was up to. His reply then is truly befitting now.

“Living the dream,” he said.

Very cool of the LA Times to let Fernando share his story with the readers. Best of luck to Matt during his big league career.