ESPN the Magazine Body Issue 2012: Top 5 Athletes on This Year's List

It's that time of year again: ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue has the interwebs buzzing about the 27 star athletes who were bold enough to strip down in order to be a part of this year's crop. 

This year marks the fourth incarnation of the tradition, meant to celebrate the athletic form by featuring a number of top-tier athletes in the buff. The issue will hit the newsstands on July 13, but in the meantime, you can get a preview of the images on ESPN.com.

Here's a look at some of this year's top selections. 

Tyson Chandler

No athlete in this year's Body Issue is making more waves than Tyson Chandler, whose photo doesn't leave much to the imagination. As one of this year's cover stars, he will flash some booty on newsstands worldwide, proving that ever since declaring for the NBA draft at 17, he's had little trouble sculpting himself into a quite impressive physical specimen.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year isn't worried about what his teammates might say about his quasi-nudey posing, according to the New York Daily News. He agreed to pose for the love of the art, or so he claims: 

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"I have the ability to do some extraordinary things in the court. I'm not one of those stand-in-the-mirror type of people. I love different aspects of art, and I can appreciate when a photo can be done correctly."

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Ashton Eaton

As the Olympics loom, Eaton is one of the most appropriate stars in this year's issue. Just a couple of weeks ago, he set a new decathlon world record at the Track and Field Olympic Trials. His face might not be as recognizable as some of those that surround him in the magazine, but after this issue hits the stands, it might. And he'll certainly be one of the Olympians all of the U.S. can get behind.

On June 23, the Oregon graduate ran 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 14.48 seconds, breaking Roman Seberle's 2001 record and establishing himself as the one to beat in London this summer. 

Abby Wambach 

Following in the footsteps of teammate Hope Solo, Wambach is the latest member of the U.S. women's soccer team to pose in the Body Issue. She and men's captain Carlos Bocanegra are the only soccer players to strip down this year. 

Wambach made a name for herself in Greece back in 2004, when she scored the winning goal against Brazil in the gold-medal game at the Olympics. In December of this year, she was named the Associated Press' Female Athlete of the Year, and she'll look to repeat her 2004 heroics with the women's team in London next month. 

Jose Bautista

The fact that he is currently tied with Josh Hamilton for the most home runs in the American League is reason enough to include him in this year's issue. The timing is right, too, considering that Bautista will be batting cleanup for the AL in this year's All-Star Game, which takes place on Tuesday night, right before this year's Body Issue photos are released. 

Bautista is the one bright spot on a Blue Jays team that is currently in last place in the AL East: The three-time All Star has 27 homers and 65 RBIs through 86 games.  

Rob Gronkowski 

The affable Patriots tight end is certainly making the publicity rounds this summer, whether it's as a contestant on the new reality show The Choice or as a participant in the Body Issue. He might be one of New England's goofiest players, but evidently, he takes his training seriously.

Shortly after establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in Patriots history—and as one of Tom Brady's prime targets—Gronk added another honor to his arsenal on Monday, when he became the celebrity softball home run champion during the Triple-A celebrity Home Run Derby in Buffalo, N.Y.

Baseball, posing for magazines, making Brady look good...Apparently, Gronk is even more skilled than we all imagined.