Robert Alan “Bud” Smith was born on October 23, 1979 (40 years old now) in Torrance, California. He studied at San Bosco HS from which the Detroit Tigers selected him in the 9th round of the 1996 MLB Draft. He turned down the offer and then in 1997, at the age of 19, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 4th round from Los Angeles Harbor College.
In 1998, St. Louis sent him to their Johnson City Affiliate in the Appalachian Rookie League, where he compiled a 5.18 ERA, promoting him in 1999 to Low-A Peoria in the Mid West League, where he had a 2.