Signed by Minnesota as an amateur free agent in 1977, he made his pro debut that season with Elizabethton, batting .303 in 63 games and earning a promotion to the Class A Visalia Oaks.

His lone MLB home run, a solo shot, came off Jerry Don Gleaton of the Seattle Mariners on April 15, 1981.

[3] He played in the Twins' system through 1984, then spent one season each in the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics organizations before retiring as a player in 1986.

He batted and threw right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg) during his active career.

[2] His teams made the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons (2005–12) and Smith has been named the Appalachian League manager of the year on six occasions.