Hunter Smith was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 24th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Smith played his high school baseball at Whiteville High School in Whiteville, NC, which produced players such as San Diego Padres top prospect Mackenzie Gore. In high school he would be selected to the 2012 Class 2A All-State team, leading them to a championship. Smith would choose Gardner-Webb University over George Washington University and Navy. He would go on to split time between Gardner-Webb and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, compiling a record of 10-7 in three years of college baseball. He would spend his freshman and sophomore seasons at Gardner-Webb before transferring to UNC Greensboro for his final season.

After being selected, Smith would spend the next three seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization. His best season came in 2017, as he would record a 3-3 record with a 3.45 ERA in 36 games with the Greenville Drive in A-ball. He would go on to reach AA with the Portland Sea Dogs. During his time with Portland, Smith would play with former T-Bone Keith Curcio. He was released by the Salem Red Sox on July 26.