With Indiana a flat-out baseball hotbed, it’s not easy winnowing down a list of the talented Indianapolis-area players to come up with the best at their respective positions. So consider this a primer of players to watch, as we present this year’s American Family Insurance Preseason All-USA Central Indiana high school baseball team.

INDYSTAR 2016 PRESEASON ALL-AREA BASEBALL TEAM

LOGAN YOUNG

Position:  First base
Year:  Junior
Ht./Wt.:  6-2, 190
School:  Shelbyville


Hit .386 as a sophomore to earn a spot on the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association 2015 All-State first team in Class 4A. Led the Golden Bears in hits (34), home runs (11) and RBI (36).

MATTHEW GORSKI

Position:  Second base
Year:  Senior
Ht./Wt.:  6-4, 190
School:  Hamilton Southeastern


An All-State honorable mention selection last year, the Indiana commit had a .347 batting average with four home runs, 26 RBI, 28 runs scored and a .972 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).

JARED POLAND

Position:  Shortstop
Year:  Sophomore
Ht./Wt.:  5-11, 190
School:  Cathedral


An All-City first-team selection as a freshman, Poland verbally committed this offseason to Louisville. Poland started from the start for the 25-3 Irish from and consistently showed power as a hitter. Prep Baseball Report ranks him third in his class.

RILEY BERTRAM

Position:  Third base
Year:  Sophomore
Ht./Wt.:  5-11, 165
School:  Zionsville


A Michigan verbal commit, Bertram is considered a smooth-fielding defensive specialist on the left side of the infield who can hit from both sides. Ranked No. 6 in his class by Prep Baseball Report, Bertram had six errors in 139 chances last year for a .957 fielding average, according to MaxPreps.

CONNOR CHRISTMAN

Position:  Catcher
Year:  Senior
Ht./Wt.:  6-2, 190
School:  Noblesville

Batted .409 as a junior with a home run and 20 RBI. The Butler recruit had a .491 on-base percentage and a .968 OPS.

KEEGAN WATSON

Position:  Outfield
Year:  Junior
Ht./Wt.:  6-2, 195
School:  New Palestine


The Nebraska commit batted .449 in 33 games for the Dragons, with 13 doubles, three triples, two homers and 30 RBI to earn first-team All-State honors in 3A.

ROY THURMAN III

Position:  Outfield
Year:  Junior
Ht./Wt.:  6-0, 200
School:  North Central

Batted .390 as a sophomore with 11 stolen bases, 19 walks and 22 RBI. Ranked No. 7 by Prep Baseball Report, Thurman has verbally committed to Louisville.

MILO BEAM

Position:  Outfield
Year:  Senior
Ht./Wt.:  6-3, 170
School:  Westfield


The speedy centerfielder and Shamrocks’ leadoff hitter had 25 stolen bases last year, batting .314 last year with a .583 on-base percentage (29 walks). The Purdue recruit had an OPS of 1.054.

REID SCHALLER

Position:  Pitcher
Year:  Senior
Ht./Wt.:  6-3, 210
School:  Lebanon

The right-handed Vanderbilt commit had an 8-1 record with a 1.15 earned-run average, to go with 76 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. Prep Baseball Report ranks him fourth in the state’s senior class.

LUKE DUERMIT

Position:  Pitcher
Year:  Junior
Ht./Wt.:  6-1, 175
School:  Fishers


As a sophomore, Duermit struck out 58 batters in 52 innings pitched for the Tigers. The lefty also hit .346 with a pair of homers.

ANDREW BOHM

Position:  Pitcher
Year:  Senior
Ht./Wt.:  6-2, 220
School: Hamilton Southeastern


The right-hander was 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA last year, with 39 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. A Purdue recruit, he’s ranked the No. 9 senior in the state by Prep Baseball Report.