ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, hiː wʌz pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd tə ðə kˈʌbz pɪˈoːɹiə ˈeɪlˈɛvəl mˈaɪnɚ lˈiːɡ tˈiːm, wˌɛɹ smˈɪθ plˈeɪd ʃˈɔːɹtstɑːp ænd sˈɛkənd bˈeɪs ænd hˈɪt .tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti θɹˈiː ɪn fˈɪfti θɹˈiː ɡˈeɪmz.
In 1986, he was promoted to the Cubs' Peoria A-level minor league team, where Smith played shortstop and second base and hit .253 in 53 games.