Here are 44 of the top baseball players to watch in the Greater Savannah area in 2024

Baseball season is already underway throughout the state of Georgia, and there are a number of Savannah area teams that are looking to make their mark with playoff runs in May.

Savannah Christian is coming off a berth in the Class 3A Final Four last season and the Raiders have a talented squad once again. Calvary Day is looking to improved on its Sweet 16 finish in Class 3A, and Savannah Country Day also has a quality squad.

Jason Pascual takes over for legendary Benedictine coach Kevin Farmer and the Cadets are looking to improve after being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last season. With a team led by North Carolina signee Parker McCoy, they have the talent to do it.

Islands, Richmond Hill, South Effingham and Effingham County are public school teams with talented players throughout their rosters that have the potential to excel.

Here's a look at 44 of the top returning players to watch in the Greater Savannah area this season.

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Parker McCoy, Benedictine, INF/P, sr.

The University of North Carolina signee was named the Region 3-4A Player of the Year last season. He was 4-4 on the mound with a 1.38 ERA and hit .430 with a 1.276 OPS. He had 11 doubles, five homers and 42 RBIs and was an Al-Greater Savannah first-team selection.

Will Hampton, Calvary Day, OF/INF/P, sr.

The Vanderbilt signee hit .434 with and OPS of 1.244 with nine doubles, four homers, 37 runs and 29 RBIs to earn Region 3-3A Offensive Player of the Year honors last season. On the mound, the lefty went 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA. Hampton was an All-Greater Savannah first-team pick.

Landon Ludwig, Benedictine, P/OF, jr.

Ludwig had another impressive season for the Cadets as he hit .385 with an OPS of 1.079. He had 11 doubles, three triples and 31 RBIs with 26 runs and went 4-3 as a pitcher with an ERA of 3.24. He was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection.

Caden Arnold, Calvary Day, SS, sr.

Arnold doubles as a star receiver on the Calvary Day football team and has signed to play football at Georgia Southern as a preferred walk on. He's also a standout on the diamond — he hit .414 with an OPS of .996 with 19 RBIs and 35 runs with 15 stolen bases to earn All-Greater Savannah first-team honors in baseball last year.

Johnny Calloway, Islands, P/OF, sr.

Calloway, who has signed to play at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was named the Region 3-4A Pitcher of the Year last season after he threw a pair of no-hitters, while posting a 6-3 record with an ERA of 1.71. He struck out 85 batters in 41 innings and was an All-Greater Savannah first-team pick.

Blaine Burnsed, Savannah Christian, P/OF, sr.

Burnsed was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection last season after posting a 1.59 ERA and a record of 6-2 to earn Region 3-3A Pitcher of the Year honors. He also swings a dangerous bat — as he hit .358 with an OPS of .943 with four homers, 29 RBIs and 17 runs last year. He has signed to play at Gordon State College.

Jayden White, Savannah Christian, INF, sr.

White, who has signed to play at Georgia Southern, hit .376 last year with 13 doubles, 29 RBIs and 33 runs and stole 14 bases to earn All-Region 3-3A first-team honors.

Gavin Martin, Richmond Hill, UTIL, sr.

Martin earned All-Region 1-7A honors last season and is expected to close out his prep career with another impressive year.

Sam Renshaw, Calvary Day, OF/INF, jr.

Renshaw is hitting cleanup for the Cavs early in the season. Last year he hit .362 with an OPS of .933 and 27 RBIs and 27 runs to earn All-Region 3-3A honors.

Dalton Redmond, South Effingham, SS, jr.

Redmond came in as a highly regarded freshman and improved last year to earn Region 2-6A honors. He'll anchor the infield for a South Effingham team looking to make a run at a region title.

Tyler Scott, Savannah Country Day, INF/P, jr.

Scott doubles as an All-Region 3-3A linebacker and has an offer from West Virginia in football. He is also an excellent baseball player who earned all-region honors for his performance on the diamond last year.

Caden Kessler, Effingham County, UTIL, jr.

Kessler earned All-Region 2-6A honors as a sophomore last season and is expected to play a big role for the Rebels this year.

Mason Diamond, Benedictine, C, soph.

Diamond emerged as one of the top young backstops in the state last year for the Cadets and is expected to be a key cog on the team as Jason Pascual takes over for Kevin Farmer as the Cadet head coach.

Joey Cardillo, Islands, SS, sr.

A starter since his freshman year, Cardillo has a career average of .404. He was an All Region 3-4A first-team pick last year and has signed to play at Milligan University, an NAIA program in Tennessee.

Noah Stone, Savannah Christian, C, sr.

Stone showed his potential at the plate last year with 16 RBIs, and will take over the role as the starting catcher for the Raiders, who won the Region 3-3A title and advanced to the Final Four last season.

Sean Kelly Hill, Bryan County, sr.

Kelly Hill, the starting quarterback for the Bryan County football team that reached the Final Four, is also a standout in baseball.

Brooks Bradshaw, Benedictine, P/INF, jr.

Bradshaw is expected to be a key contributor once again on the Cadet pitching staff.

Justin Beck, Bryan County, sr.

Beck earned All-Region honors for Bryan County last season.

Ryan Wallace, Calvary Day, P/3B, jr.

Keep an eye on the newcomer from North Carolina who is expected to be a key player for the Cavs.

Cole Walker, Benedictine, INF, sr.

The senior has signed to play football as a long snapper at Eastern Carolina. He swings a powerful bat and is off to a hot start at the plate for the Cadets.

Tyler Fountain, Richmond Hill, INF/P, sr.

Fountain was a key man for the Wildcat squad that finished second in Region 1-7A and reached the Sweet 16 in the Class 7A playoffs.

Brian Lowry, Calvary Day, P, sr.

Lowry is a key pitcher for the Cavs and has a submarine style of delivery.

Grayson Britt, Benedictine, P/UTIL, sr.

The standout lefty is expected to play a big role for the Cadets under first-year coach Jason Pascual.

Garrett Lorfano, Savannah Country Day, C/OF, sr.

The standout Hornet senior has signed to play at Flagler College.

Bryce Hendricks, Richmond Hill, P, sr.

Hendricks earned All-Region honors last season and is expected to be a leader on the pitching staff for the Wildcats once again.

Dalton Brown, Savannah Country Day, P/1B, sr.

The 6-foot-8 left hander is currently on the SCD basketball team that just won the Region 3-3A title. He has signed to play baseball at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.

Q King, Effingham County, OF, jr.

The versatile athlete is also a standout on the Rebel football team. He's a leadoff hitter with speed who earned All-Region honors last season.

Grant Wagner, Richmond Hill, C/P, soph.

Wagner has an impressive freshman season for the Wildcats and should be even better this season.

Brooks Kleinpeter, Savannah Country Day, INF/P, jr.

The three-sport star is also a standout with the Hornet football and basketball squads.

Ty Cantaline, South Effingham, OF/P, sr.

Cantaline earned All-Region honors as a junior for a Mustang squad that finished third in Region 2-6A.

Newton Kieffer, Effingham County, INF, jr.

Look for Kieffer to be a key man in the Rebel lineup. He had 14 RBIs as a sophomore.

Braiden Swab, Islands, P/OF, sr.

Swab is a key player on a team stacked with senior talent. He has signed to play at East Georgia College.

Dru Futch, South Effingham, 3B/P, sr.

Futch is a senior leader on a South Effingham squad looking to contend for a region crown.

Ben Fernandez, Islands, 1B/P, sr.

Fernandez swings a powerful bat in the middle of the Sharks batting order. He has signed to play at Miles College.

Dylan Gordon, Islands, C, jr.

Gordon is expected to have a big impact behind the plate and at the plate for the Sharks.

Brian Swinton, Jenkins, soph.

Swinton had an impressive freshman campaign for the Warriors as he hit .381 and earned All-Region honors.

Felix Arce, Bradwell Institute, sr.

Arce earned all-region honors for the Tigers as a junior.

Charles Stuart, Jenkins, soph.

Stuart was another freshman who impressed last season under coach Seth Gaspin.

Carlos Singleton, Liberty County, INF/P, sr.

The standout quarterback from the Panther football team also excels at baseball.

Ra'Shawn Truell, New Hampstead, OF, jr.

Truell, a star quarterback in football and guard in basketball, is also a standout outfielder for the Phoenix.

Jack Kelley, St. Andrew's, P/INF, fresh.

Kelley was one of the Lions' top players last season as an eighth grader.

Thayer Hughes, Habersham School, jr.

Hughes is back for the Patriots after hitting .513 last season with a pair of homers and 20 RBIs.

Tripp Jackson, St. Andrew's, P/INF, sr.

Jackson is back in the fold as a senior for a Lion's young Lion's squad looking to make strides.

William Hawkins, Memorial Day, P/INF, sr.

Hawkins returns as a top player for the Matadors.

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: High School baseball: Top 44 players to watch in Greater Savannah area