When Cartersville's Stuart Chester coached the East team at last year's Perfect Game All-American Classic, he knew that standing in front of him were potential future Major League Baseball draft picks.

"They all have the potential to move to the next level ... Division I in college and, of course, the potential to go in the MLB draft," Chester said. "We knew there'd be some No. 1 picks in there."

Six of the Perfect Game All-American players Chester coached last year wound up being selected in the first round of Monday's MLB First-Year Player Draft, including top pick Carlos Correa, who was taken No. 1 by the Houston Astros.

"MLB was blessed when [the Astros] chose Carlos No.1," the Purple Hurricanes coach added in regard to the shortstop from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. "Even before he steps on the field [what stands out is] the team player that he is, what he does for his teammates and just how he carries himself and just how he would change the room when he walked in.

"Even better than that, he was the first one that came to me every single day we stepped on the field," Chester continued. "He was asking me to hit fungoes [ground balls]. His work ethic was very evident from the get-go. He had no down time. When he put his cleats on, he wanted to be doing something to make himself better in baseball."

Going behind Correa in the first round were his teammates from last summer's classic, players like Chicago Cubs' pick Albert Almora (6) of Mater Academy (Fla.) Charter; Colorado Rockies' pick David Dahl (10) of Oak Mountain (Ala.) High; Oakland Athletics' pick Addison Russell (11) of Pace (Fla.) High; Los Angeles Dodgers' pick Corey Seager (18) of Northwest Cabarrus (N.C.) High; and Atlanta Braves' pick Lucas Sims (21) of Brookwood High.

Chester had been in communication with Correa in the weeks leading up to the MLB draft and followed the telecast earlier this week. He still marvels at the privilege he had last summer.

"First of all, it was an honor to be a part of that and an honor to be around all that talent," he acknowledged. "The thing that stuck out that I'll always remember, they're probably 40 of the most talented players in the country, but their work ethic, that's what got 'em to that point. To see a young man of [immense] talent ... be hard-nosed and [still willing to] work at it, [that's] a true baseball player."

The experience of last summer won't soon be duplicated, he pointed out.

"[That was something that happens] once in a coaching career," said Chester, who was able to coach in the San Diego Padres' Petco Park.

In addition to coaching talented players in a Major League ballpark, the coach appreciates, just as well, being able to connect with some of Perfect Game's officials.

"I always relate baseball to being an opportunity for relationships. It just made for a good extended relationship with them moving to Cartersville," Chester said on Wednesday, when the Cartersville Baseball Complex played host to five games in a Perfect Game tournament.

The tournament -- featuring teams coached by former MLB players like Cecil Fielder and Marquis Grissom -- was slated to continue with five more games today and four on Friday, Chester said.

"The opportunity to see an organization like Perfect Game [is great]," said Chester, reflecting once again on last year's all-star experience. "[They are the] most organized, most classy and well-represented organization."