Ortellado explodes with three-homer game: 'I try to have the same approach in every at-bat'

Argentina's infielder Franco Ortellado delivered an historic offensive exhibition on Friday, in his team's 16-0 victory against Hong Kong, China, at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B tournament at Prime Ministers’ Park Rotary Field in Prince Albert, Canada.

The 28-year-old hit three homers and drove in six runs, making a memorable impact in his first start in a WBSC Men's Softball World Cup.

Born on January 16, 1996, in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, the infielder won the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup in 2014 in Whitehorse, Canada, securing Argentina's second consecutive youth world title. This year, he is making his debut in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup.

"I was calm before the game, maybe a bit anxious for my first start, but I was relaxed," he said. "It's great to have the opportunity to join the team and contribute with my teammates."

After the game, Ortellado, who began playing softball at his hometown's All Boys club, mentioned that he was not trying to swing for the fences. "In my first at-bat, I was not looking for a home run, to be honest," he said. "It was a drop ball, and I was focused on making contact. It just happened." This all took place in the first inning.

One inning later, with one out and the bases empty, Ortellado got his second at-bat. He took the first pitch as a ball, and then smashed his second homer of the game to left field. "The second at-bat was also a drop, a bit more in the inside corner," he described. "This time I was looking for that pitch, and I was lucky enough to barrel it."

In the bottom of the fourth, he stepped in the batter's box with runners in the corners and two outs. And he ended the game with a walk-off homer. "The third homer was a rise ball, in the outside part of the plate. I was just trying to put the ball in play to score one more run for the team. But the ball carried out and left the ballpark," he said. 

Asked about his approach in the third at bat, after belting back-to-back homers in his previous plate appearances he said: "I was calmer, I try to have the same approach in every at bat." 

The last time a player hit three homers in one game was on 8 July 2017 in Whitehorse, Canada, when Yeider Chirinos did so in Venezuela's 35-0 win against Türkiye. The day before, Tyron Bartorillo did the same against Türkiye, in New Zealand's 22-0 game.