Behind the scenes at Dallas Keuchel's Body Issue photo shoot

PHOTOS: A behind-the-scenes look at Dallas Keuchel's photo shoot (WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE) Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) during the seventh inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in La Porte. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Browse through the photos above for a behind-the-scenes look at Dallas Keuchel's photo shoot. less PHOTOS: A behind-the-scenes look at Dallas Keuchel's photo shoot (WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE) Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) during the seventh inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, ... more Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close Behind the scenes at Dallas Keuchel's Body Issue photo shoot 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

Wearing his glove, his beard and, well, nothing else, Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel strikes a classic pitcher's pose in a photograph taken for ESPN The Magazine's annual "Body Issue."

Keuchel's form will be on strategically arranged display as one of a dozen-plus athletes who posed for this year's edition of the magazine, which goes on sale June 29. A photo gallery of poses will be posted June 25 on ESPN's website, the company said. This edition of the Body Issue is called BODY10, as the magazine celebrates the 10th anniversary of the issue.

While pretty much all of Keuchel is available for viewing, based on a behind-the-scenes photo provided for chron.com by ESPN, the magazine's focus, not surprisingly, includes some inside tales about the pitcher's trademark beard.

"I comb [my beard] for 10, 20 minutes a day - it's pretty absurd when you really think about it," he told the magazine. "I use beard oils, shampoo, conditioner ... I mean, I treat it like a kid. It's its own person."

Photo: Eric Lutzens Georgetown, TX - Dallas Keuchel ESPN Body Issue. Dallas Keuchel is...

As for the rest of himself, Keuchel sounds pleased with what he has to display after his offseason in the wake of the Astros' World Series victory.

"I gained 15 to 18 pounds, and I honestly feel like I'm a rookie now. My body feels that good," he said.

"As a baseball player, if I'm pitching 35 times a season, seven innings a pop, 100 pitches a game, I need some fat. I need some extra meat on my body."

Keuchel was photographed by photographer Kurt Iswarienko at a limestone quarry in Georgetown, north of Austin, during an Astros off day May 21.

Other "Body Issue" subjects this year include Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman, WNBA players Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart and U.S. Soccer women's national team members Megan Rapinoe and Crystal Dunn.

Also, Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, softball infielder Lauren Chamberlain, professional wrestler Charlotte Flair, MLS player Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olympic athletes Tori Bowie, Jessie Diggins and Adam Rippon.

Keuchel joins former Cy-Fair High School star and WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike and Texans defensive lineman Vince Wilfork as recent "Body Issue" subjects from Houston.

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While he has not commented on the photo shoot, he was the subject of some good-natured gibes from teammates this week.

"There's so many better bodies on this team. Psssh," Astros outfielder Josh Reddick said.

Jose Altuve, meanwhile, had an easy answer as to why Keuchel will be in the magazine instead of the American League's Most Valuable Player.

"I didn't get the invitation," Altuve said.

Chronicle staff writer Hunter Atkins contributed to this report.