Will Ramirez take next step?

Alexei Ramirez is a good major-league shortstop, of that there is little doubt.

But after four full seasons with the White Sox, you have to seriously wonder if he’s ever going to take the next step to greatness.

Ramirez has shown plenty of flashes with the bat and the glove, but he has been unable to sustain the wow factor.

Maybe it happens this season, when his four-year, $32.5 million contract extension kicks in.

“I really feel the same as when I first got here,” Ramirez said after arriving in the White Sox’ training camp late last month. “I’m really excited to play. I love to play the game, and I’m really here to help the young guys and tell them how to play.”

Ramirez is slightly built at 6-feet-2, 180 pounds, but he is a durable, every-day performer. The 30-year-old shortstop played 158 games last season and is expected to log heavy innings again this year.

At the bat:

Ramirez was a slow starter in his first three seasons with the Sox, but he always delivered a strong finishing kick.

Last year — when he batted a career low .269 — Ramirez got off to a fast start at the plate with a .265 average in April and .313 average in May.

As the season wore on, Ramirez cooled off. He did hit 15 homers and drove in 70 runs for the second straight year, but more was expected.

In the order:

New manager Robin Ventura trotted out his likely Opening Day lineup in Monday’s exhibition opener, and Ramirez was batting sixth behind cleanup man Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn.

If he is still in the No. 6 hole when play begins for real on April 6 at Texas, Ramirez will be happy.

“I definitely like the challenge and the responsibility to be the RBI hitter,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “For the most part, I’m going to bat wherever they need me. If it’s second, I’ll bat second. Wherever they want me.”

It looks like A.J. Pierzynski is the leading candidate to hit second behind new leadoff man Alejandro De Aza, but Ramirez played 100 games as the Sox’ No. 2 hitter last season and batted .294.

While also batting third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth, Ramirez hit .221.

In the field:

Ramirez should have won the Gold Glove two years ago, but his defensive play slipped last season.

In 2010, Ramirez had the most total chances (768) among American League shortstops and he seemed to get to every ball hit in his general vicinity.

Last year, the total chances dipped to 690.

According to the Fielding Bible, Ramirez will lead the White Sox with 6 saved runs this season, but let’s see how that translates on the field.

Ramirez also needs to work on covering second base on steal attempts. He is often wide of the bag, undoubtedly to avoid contact, and fails to make the tag on time.

Ramirez has never placed personal defensive goals above the team’s performance, and he’s not starting now.

“It’s not something I search for,” he said. “I think my priorities are to help the team win, so for the most part, that’s what I concentrate most on.”

In reserve:

Ramirez is going to get the bulk of playing time at shortstop, so Ventura isn’t really focusing on a backup.

The Sox do have a pair of slick-fielding shortstops in camp — Eduardo Escobar and Ozzie Martinez — but neither infielder is guaranteed a roster spot.

Brent Lillibridge is an option everywhere except pitchers and catcher, and the super utility man did come up as a shortstop.

Tops in the AL:

Scot Gregor ranks the shortstops:

1. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians

2. Elvis Andrus, Rangers

3. Jhonny Peralta, Tigers

6. Alexei Ramirez, WHITE SOX

RotoGraphs on Ramirez: There may not be a more consistently mediocre hitter than Ramirez. Over the last three seasons his wOBA’s are .319, .322 and .319. He’s hit 15, 18 and 15 home runs. He’s driven in 68, 70 and 70 runs. His stolen base total was cut in half this past season, but from 2008-2010 it was 13, 14 and 13. It’s safe to say he likes duplicates. His plate discipline and batted ball numbers have been steady as well. He’s not a star and really doesn’t have the potential to be one. What is he? He’s an average shortstop who benefits from playing in a hitter-friendly park.