Julius Spann

Julius Spann

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 225 lb.

• School Francis Marion University
• High School Northeast High School

• Born October 18, 1990 in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate Germany

Biographical Information

Julius Spann has played in the Bundesliga-1 and for the German national team.

Spann was born in Germany, but came to Philadelphia for high school when his father (who was in the military) was stationed in the US. He said being a German African-American, he was pleased to find a diverse, welcoming environment. He returned to Germany to fulfill his mandatory year of civilian military service and played briefly for his hometown Mainz Athletics (0 for 1, 1 R in 1 IP). He then returned to the US to go to Francis Marion University. He was back with Mainz for part of the 2012 season, hitting .300/.417/.650 in 9 games as a backup 1B/RF.

In 2013, he was Mainz's starting right fielder, batting .269/.340/.398. The next summer, he slumped to .162/.269/.250. He was 2 for 17 to open 2015. He left Germany to play in the US Heartland League but there is no record of his appearing there.

The Mainz native switched teams and positions in 2016, becoming a pitcher for the Heidenheim Heideköpfe and going 1-0 with a 4.88 ERA. In the 2016 European Champions Cup, he allowed four hits and two runs in 1 2/3 IP; relieving Marcel Giraud with a 1-1 score against Fortitudo Bologna, he gave up the losing hit to Paolino Ambrosino. Despite a mediocre first season on the mound, he made the German squad for the 2016 European Championship. He was a late cut, though, replaced by Eric Brenk.

Julius was 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in '17. He had a 1-1, 6.00 record in the postseason as Heidenheim won it all. In 2018, he was 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA and a save. He pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings in the 2018 European Champions Cup and got the win over T&A San Marino; R.J. Hively got the save.

2019 Bundesliga-1 stats are unavailable (as of 11/27/2020). After just missing the 2016 Euros, he made Germany's team for the 2019 European Championship. He closed out a 9-1 win over Sweden. Relieving Samuel Steigert in the 9th, he retired Peter Johannessen and Nico Filice then struck out Oscar Jerfsten on three pitches. His other game was a start against the Czech national team, squaring off against former Oriole farmhand Jan Novák. He pitched okay in his team's 10-6 loss, allowing four runs (only one earned) in five innings on six hits and two walks, fanning three, before Logan Grigsby relieved; Spann got the decision. He was on Germany's team for the 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers before those were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.