Cole Hamels cozies up to actress Rebekah Graf in loved-up photos as he enjoys retirement
Former MLB star Cole Hamels appears to be enjoying his new retirement while teaming up with a new potential girlfriend.
Hamels, who retired from baseball earlier this month, has since been linked to actress Rebekah Graf she posted photos of the couple on Instagram.
In a series of photos shared on the social media platform last month, the rumored couple appeared particularly close.
In the first snapshot, Graf, 41, and Hamels, 39, looked at each other lovingly and appeared to lean in for a kiss.
In other photos, the new couple was lounging by the pool as they posed for a few selfies.
Cole Hamels seems to be enjoying his new retirement while cozying up to Rebekah Graf
Graf, an actress, posted photos of the couple looking loved-up on Instagram last month
In a series of photos posted on social media, the couple appeared to be leaning in for a kiss
The carousel ended with a video of Hamels trying to remove a thorn from Graf’s hand.
The actress, who is best known for playing Heather Locklear in Netflix’s ‘The Dirt’ in 2018, captioned the post: ‘He’s making me melt like a popsicle on July 4th (sic)… last slide is Cole pulling thorns out of my hand because I just had to touch a cactus. Again.’
Graf shared a second post of the couple together, which included a slow-motion GIF of them kissing with fireworks lighting up the sky in the background, with the one-word caption: “Kaboom.”
The post suggests that the former Philadelphia Phillies ace has divorced his wife, Heidi Strobel.
Hamels and Strobel tied the knot on New Year’s Eve 2006, after Hamels’ rookie season with the Phillies.
They share four children together, sons Caleb and Braxton, and daughters Reeve and Mackenzie. They adopted Reeve from Ethiopia in 2012.
Nicknamed “Hollywood,” Hamels seems to have a type, as Strobel is also an actress, having appeared on Survivor: The Amazon in 2003 and posed for Playboy.
It is not clear when or why the couple broke up.
However, Hamels did not get his ‘Hollywood’ nickname from his actress wife. The San Diego native was nicknamed by former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard for wearing surf shorts and flip flops in the clubhouse.
In other photos, the new couple was lounging by the pool as they posed for a few selfies
The carousel ended with a video of Hamels trying to remove a thorn from Graf’s hand
The post suggests the former Phillies ace has split from his wife, Heidi Strobel (left)
Hamels and Strobel got married in 2016 – the actress kisses her husband after his World Series victory
The former World Series MVP retired from baseball earlier this month
Hamels retired earlier this month after his attempted comeback with his hometown San Diego Padres fell through.
The Padres, who signed Hamels to a minor league-contract in February, announced Hamels’ retirement on Friday. The southpaw’s agent, John Boggs, confirmed the 15-year veteran’s retirement.
Hamels, 39, made one start for the Atlanta Braves in 2020 and hasn’t pitched since. The four-time All-Star underwent shoulder surgery in 2021.
Hamels, who attended Rancho Bernardo High, was a 2002 Philadelphia first-round draft pick and was the MVP of the 2008 World Series with the Phillies. He pitched 10 seasons for the Phillies and was also with Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He was 163-122 with a 3.43 ERA and 2,560 strikeouts in 15 seasons.