PHOENIX -- The author of many tape-measure shots during his playing days with the Milwaukee Brewers, Rickie Weeks was asked about the blast Joey Ortiz launched Thursday at Surprise Stadium.

Coming off Texas Rangers closer José Leclerc, the ball exploded off Ortiz's bat and way out to left field. It sailed over the berm and to the walkway beyond, very nearly clearing the back wall of the ballpark.

"That was a bomb," Weeks, now Milwaukee's associate manager, said Friday morning when it was suggested the drive had many of the hallmarks of one of the 148 homers he slugged in a Brewers uniform.

"I don't know about a Rickie homer. That's a Joey home run right there."

Even Ortiz himself was shocked by the quality of contact.

"I think that's the purest I've ever hit a ball, to be honest," he said with a smile. "Usually when I hit a ball like that, I black out. I just don't usually hit balls that hard. I hit it and just was running."

Joey Ortiz acquired by Brewers in the Corbin Burnes trade

The Brewers acquired the 25-year-old infielder along with left-hander DL Hall from the Baltimore Orioles two weeks before spring training began, with the book on Ortiz being a potential Rawlings Gold Glove Award-winning middle infielder whose bat has been playing catch-up since being drafted in the fourth round of of New Mexico State in 2019.

There has been steady improvement the past couple seasons, however.

In 2022, Ortiz hit .284 with 19 home runs, 85 runs batted in and an OPS of .826 over 137 games split between Class AA Bowie and Class AAA Norfolk. Then in 88 games at Norfolk last season -- Ortiz also made his major-league debut with the Orioles, playing 15 games -- he put up a line of .321/9/58/.885 in 88 games.

The numbers were night and day different from his first two professional seasons (2020 was, of course, wiped out due to the pandemic) and the result of both a strong work ethic and a maturing approach at the plate.

"Getting stronger in the weight room. Working on my swing, making sure I'm in a good position," is how Ortiz explained his improvement. "Just making sure I'm swinging at the pitch I want to swing at.

"Even with the defense, I feel like there's always something you can work on and always something you can get better at. I hope my hitting gets better and continues to get better. Same with my glove."

With so many infielders in camp, Ortiz has been eased into Cactus League play to this point. But he's produced a .400 average with the homer and three RBI in his limited opportunities and will see his playing time ramp up as camp progresses and the Brewers begin to really hone in on which players will head north with them at the end of the month.

Ortiz could be contributor for Brewers across the infield

Ortiz is already being pegged as Milwaukee's shortstop of the future. But this season his pathway to playing time is likely going to be at third base -- a position where run producers are preferred -- and second base.

"His glove definitely works," said Weeks. "That was the fanfare with him coming over. But I think the biggest thing for me is just the way he works. For him to come out here and to make this team and go forward his versatility around the infield (is key), and so far he's passed with flying colors."

As far as Ortiz's calling card -- his glove -- he had his first hiccup in the same game in which he homered, firing an off-target throw to first for an error.

But don't get used to it. Ortiz is as smooth as they come.

That became apparent on the very first ground ball he fielded at shortstop in Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, when he ranged in on a soft Nick Martini grounder, made a seamless transfer with the ball to his throwing hand and fired a laser over to first base for the out.

"I feel like it's just a lot of work being put in, a lot of focusing on little things. Especially now," Ortiz said. "Make sure I'm taking a good first step, being under control. It's all the little stuff that I've worked on, and then trying and put it in play in the game."

It was a routine play for pretty much any major-league shortstop. But Ortiz made it seem even more routine than usual if that's possible, demonstrating a smoothness and fluidity of motion that suggests his talents might be more than just a product of repetition.

"I kind of just feel the ball, throw the ball and make it as simple as possible," he said.

Added Weeks: "We can question parts of a lot of peoples' games. But when he came over there was no question about his glove at all. Obviously, there's things to be worked on, to get better with. But we knew that coming in. He's going to make plays like that."

Murphy bestows nickname on Ortiz

Clearly, Ortiz's glove and bat will do the talking for him this season. But he's now officially a member of the fold after having been bestowed a nickname -- one of manager Pat Murphy's favorite gambits this spring.

Henceforth, Ortiz is known to the skipper as "Tito," a nod to the famous retired MMA fighter and current boxer Tito Ortiz.

Compared to some of the others handed out by Murphy -- "Pee Wee" Rhys Hoskins, for instance, Tito isn't bad. It could also be construed as a nod to the toughness of the former UFC champion.

No doubt, the Brewers hope Ortiz will deal a few knockout blows to pitchers this season and beyond.

"I used to watch Tito a while back because my dad is into the UFC and stuff like that. We'd watch it all the time," said Ortiz. "That's cool."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Joey Ortiz is seeking to become a dual threat for the Brewers