Arizona Diamondbacks' new pitcher Vidal Nuno is no stranger to adversity

• Left-hander Vidal Nuno was 2-5 with a 5.42 ERA this season for the Yankees.
• Pitching coach Mike Harkey believes experience will help Nuno find consistency.
• Nuno was selected in the 48th round by the Cleveland Indians.
• General Manager Kevin Towers underwent vocal-cord surgery Monday in New York.

Introductions in the clubhouse Monday afternoon were brief and likely continued in the dugout during the game against the Marlins, but the Diamondbacks could have plenty of time to get to know left-hander Vidal Nuno.

The 26-year-old will make his Diamondbacks debut Tuesday, only two days after he was included in the swap with the Yankees for right-hander Brandon McCarthy. Nuno could be a fixture in the rotation for the next few years considering his salary is set at the league minimum until 2017, making him an affordable option should he prove to be reliable.

"It's thrilling that another team wants me to pitch for them," Nuno said. "I'm going to do the same routine I was doing in New York and try to have quality starts down here."

The Diamondbacks will use the rest of the season to gauge Nuno's ability. This much is clear so far: He has four- and two-seam fastballs and also mixes in a curveball, changeup, cutter and slider. Nuno suffered a groin injury last June, and that may have influenced his production with the Yankees.

He went 2-5 with a 5.42 ERA, but he showed flashes of effectiveness in his past two outings, when he gave up a combined 10 hits and three earned runs.

"I was just trying to find my pitches," Nuno said. "I didn't pitch for almost six months. Just getting to the highest level, it's a little hard to find my routine, find my release point and stuff like that. The last two starts, I found it."

Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Harkey's insight into Nuno helped facilitate the trade, as Harkey was the bullpen coach with the Yankees last season. He believes experience will help Nuno find consistency, and Harkey isn't worried about the lack of power in Nuno's repertoire.

Actually, Nuno seems to fit into the ever-growing list of finesse artists — like Josh Collmenter and Chase Anderson — the Diamondbacks have on staff.

"Fastball command is the name of the game, regardless of whether you throw 85 or you throw 95," Harkey said. "It doesn't matter. You throw the ball down and you pitch on the corners, you're going to have success. You give me five Collmenters, and I'll show you five guys who are going to have success in the rotation regardless."

Still, it's fair for the Diamondbacks to have some reservations. Some advanced metrics, like his fielding-independent pitching, don't show a favorable forecast, whereas McCarthy's outlook is much more promising, but this wouldn't be the first time Nuno has overcome adversity.

He was selected in the 48th round by the Indians; played at Baker University, an NAIA school; and had a short stint in the Independent League in 2011.

On the mend

General Manager Kevin Towers underwent vocal-cord surgery Monday in New York.

Towers had his right vocal cord replaced by one from a cadaver.

"I just texted with his wife," manager Kirk Gibson said. "She said things went really good. He got to say 300 words today, and he used them up in about two minutes."

Up next

D-Backs vs. Marlins

When: Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.

TV/radio: FSAZ/ KTAR-AM 620, KMVP-FM 98.7, KSUN-AM 1400

Pitching matchup: Diamondbacks LHP Vidal Nuno (2-5, 5.42) vs. Marlins LHP Brad Hand (0-1, 6.21).

Notable: Nuno will be making his first start for the Diamondbacks since being traded from the Yankees for Brandon McCarthy. He has never faced the Marlins. Nuno has lasted five innings or less in half of his 14 starts this season. … Hand is making his second start since an ankle injury landed him on the disabled list. He previously gave up three runs in five innings against the Phillies. Hand started the year in the bullpen.

Upcoming pitchers

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (7-5, 3.98) vs. Marlins RHP Nate Eovaldi (5-4, 3.75).

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At San Francisco, 7:15p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Mike Bolsinger (1-5, 5.13) vs. Giants RHP Tim Lincecum (8-5, 3.91).

Saturday: At San Francisco, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Wade Miley (4-6, 4.43) vs. Giants TBA.