Giancarlo Stanton shows off body in ESPN the Magazine

Giancarlo Stanton had no concerns about becoming the butt of jokes for posing nude in ESPN The Magazine's fifth annual Body Issue.

"Honestly, what flak can you give me?" the Miami Marlins fit slugger cracked before Tuesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park.

Stanton and New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey are the only major leaguers among the athletes who appear in the magazine, which hits newsstands Friday.

Others featured -- with key body parts covered -- include San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, 77-year-old golfer Gary Player and U.S. beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings.

"It was fun. It was interesting," Stanton said of the photo shoot. "It was about eight hours straight. You can't eat much. But it was cool. The paint was what I liked the best.

"The worst part was having to do the whole interview afterward explaining everything about my body."

Asked what was his best body part, Stanton replied: "My hands. See? Pretty."

Marlins manager Mike Redmond applauded Stanton for showing off his chisled frame.

"They asked me to do that, and I told them I didn't think it was appropriate for a manager, and I didn't want to take the focus off the players," Redmond said with a laugh. "So I'm glad he did that."

Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net
or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas
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