NEW YORK (AP) — Xavier Nady has reinjured his elbow and appears headed for season-ending surgery.

Nady felt pain when making a throw during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton on Thursday night. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Nady walked off the field in the fifth inning, two innings after feeling pain.

“I’m more disappointed for him than myself. Obviously, as a club you would like to have him back. He was very good for us last year,” Girardi said Friday.

The outfielder, acquired from Pittsburgh last July, has been sidelined since hurting the elbow on April 14 at Tampa Bay. He may be re-examined next week by Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum, who replaced Nady’s elbow ligament in September 2001. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Nady may need the ligament replaced again.

Nady said in April that he had a partial ligament tear in his right elbow and originally was told that he’d likely need a season-ending operation. Following tests and exams, doctors recommended rest and strengthening exercises.

Nady played two games at extended spring training on June 19-20, then started the rehab assignment at Scranton on Wednesday. Girardi had been hoping he would be activated soon.

“He’s put a lot of time into this. And if it comes to where there’s something that needs to be repaired, you know, it’s 2½ months that he spent trying to rehab it and being a team guy,” Girardi said. “I know how bad he wants to play.”

Nady is expected to meet up with the Yankees on Saturday at Citi Field.

“The odds were against it,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who turned 35 Friday, originally was in the starting lineup for Friday night’s Subway Series opener against the Mets, then was scratched because of a bad cough.

“With a respiratory problem, you worry about them, you know, getting winded and that sort of thing,” Girardi said before Jeter was pulled from the lineup.

Asked how he felt, Jeter said, “Great,” then immediately coughed. Hideki Matsui gave him a birthday cake through Isao Hirooka, the team’s Pacific Rim media adviser.

“If I ask him, he’s going to tell me he’s 25,” Girardi said playfully. “It is hard to believe. Sometimes I look at these guys and I still think of them as kids, because that’s what they were when I played with them.”

Jeter was looking forward to his first game at Citi Field. He had success at Shea Stadium, where he homered on the game’s first pitch against Bobby J. Jones in Game 4 of the 2000 World Series.

“You have some good memories there, but I’m sure there aren’t too many players that miss it,” Jeter said.

NOTES: Johnny Damon had jerseys of David Wright, Jose Reyes and Johan Santana in his locker. Damon said they will be framed and auctioned by his foundation.