Hamels donate Branson West home to Camp Barnabas

Major League Baseball pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi are donating their multimillion-dollar home in Branson West to Camp Barnabas.

Camp Barnabas plans to use the 32,000-square-foot home and more than 100 surrounding acres on Table Rock Lake to expand its ministry services beyond its summer camp, according to a news release.

“Our mission is to change lives through disability ministry, and we’ve been strategically looking for ways to expand our ministry," CEO Jason Brawner said in the release. “We have no doubt that this gift will allow us to do just that.”

A player for the Texas Rangers, Hamels' 2866 State Highway DD home had been listed for as high as $9.8 million, according to a listing posted by Hilton Realtors.

The home has 10 bedrooms, 13 full bathrooms, an eight-car garage, an eleavtor shaft, infinity pool, dock and other features.

The gift is the largest in Camp Barnabas' history, according to the release.

“There are tons of amazing charities in Southwest Missouri. Out of all of these, Barnabas really pulled on our heartstrings,” said Hamels, who's known for his Springfield-area charity efforts, in the release. “Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve; there is truly nothing like it. Barnabas makes dreams come true, and we felt called to help them in a big way.”