Photos by Peggy Sirota, ESPN The Magazine

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

The extremely scantily-clad Patriots tight end, wearing only Hulk hands and a grimace, made the cover of ESPN The Magazine's "body issue" that will hit newsstands on Friday.

The fourth annual special issue is billed by ESPN as a "celebration of the athletic form" and will feature 27 world-class athletes. In addition to Gronkowski, the issue also includes Blue Jays home run hitter Jose Bautista, US women's national soccer team forward Abby Wambach, and New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler.

All 27 athletes posed nude for the issue's signature Bodies We Want photo portfolio.

The full lineup includes:

• Carlos Bocanegra (soccer)
• Daniela Hantuchova (WTA)
• Rob Gronkowski (NFL)
• Abby Wambach (soccer)
• Tyson Chandler (NBA)
• Candace Parker (WNBA)
• Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL)
• Jose Bautista (MLB)
• Brad Richards (NHL)
• Maya Gabiera (surfing)
• Ronda Rousey (MMA)
• Mike Smith (jockey)
• Tim Morehouse (fencing)
• Walter Dix (track)
• Danell Leyva (gymnastics)
• Suzann Pettersen (LPGA)
• Ashton Eaton (decathlon)
• Carmelita Jeter (track)
• Anna Tunnicliffe (sailing)
• Oksana Masters (paralympic rowing)

USA volleyball team:

• Destinee Hooker
• Stacy Sykora
• Alisha Glass
• Cynthia Barboza
• Megan Hodge
• Nellie Spicer
• Heather Bown

It's a becoming a big week for Gronkowski. Last night in Buffalo he won a celebrity home run derby contest. And this morning, he's a cover boy.