Star pitcher donates mansion to children's charity

Washington - Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife, Heidi, played Santa Claus on Wednesday to a children's charity, donating a $9.4 million mansion and grounds to the group.

The couple donated the southwest Missouri home, which has 10 bedrooms and 32 000-square feet, and 100 acres of land to Camp Barnabas, a charity that provides camps for children with special needs and chronic illnesses. 

"There are tons of amazing charities in southwest Missouri. Out of all of these, Barnabas really pulled on our heartstrings," Hamels said in a statement on his foundation website.

"Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve - there's truly nothing like it. Barnabas makes dreams come true and we felt called to help them in a big way."

The mansion in Branson, Missouri is about 85 miles from where Mrs Hamels grew up and it was to have been a dream home before the couple decided to move to the Dallas area when Hamels was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Texas Rangers.

Hamels, 33, has one season remaining on a six-year Major League Baseball contract worth $144 million.

The four-time All-Star went 11-6 with a 4.20 earned-run average for the Rangers in 2017.