KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- New York Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch left his first minor league rehab game Friday night after being hit by a pitch on the outside of the left knee.

Leading off the fourth inning for Class A Tampa in a Florida State League game against the Kissimmee Cobras, Knoblauch was hit by a pitch thrown by Scott Navarro.

The injury was not considered serious.

"Hopefully, somehow, I can shake this off and play tomorrow, but I don't know if they're going to want me to," Knoblauch said. "I've been thumped a thousand times and I've never been hit in this spot. It was weird."

After falling to the ground, Knoblauch walked gingerly to dugout while being assisted by two trainers. The injury was treated with ice in the dugout. He later walked to the clubhouse, only slightly favoring his left leg.

Knoblauch, who handled one ground ball at second base, struck out in his only other at bat against Navarro, who had retired nine straight before the hit by pitch.

"I was just starting to feel in the groove, it was going good," Knoblauch said. "This is how my year has been ... exactly right here to a tee. There's nothing I can do but laugh about it. It was going in the right direction."

Before the game, Knoblauch had said he was prepared to play this season despite his ailing elbow not being 100 percent.

"I hope so ... that's why I'm starting to play games," Knoblauch said after batting practice. "I'm just resigned to the fact that it's not going to be healthy. I'm trying to see if I can play through it. I'll find out throughout these games."

Knoblauch is expected to rejoin the Yankees when rosters are expanded Sept. 1. It's not clear if Friday's injury could affect those plans

Knoblauch's right elbow has bothered him for the past month. An MRI earlier this month confirmed a previous diagnosis that he has tendinitis and inflammation in the elbow.

Knoblauch said the elbow has not improved since starting his rehab at the Yankees player development center in Tampa Fla., two weeks ago.

"It's very frustrating ... I didn't get frustrated until about 4-5 days ago," Knoblauch said. "It's a mystery. It won't get any better no matter what I'm doing. We'll see how these games go and see how my arm reacts.

"The only thing I'm worried about is just trying to get healthy ... that's it. If I was healthy, I'd be doing cartwheels."

Knoblauch injured the elbow July 24 at Baltimore and went on the DL for the first time in his 10-year major league career.

The injury has not affected Knoblauch, who is hitting .291 with 60 runs scored this season, at the plate. He has 15 errors, mostly on throws.

"I hope I can contribute (down the stretch) with the bat, or even defensively if I can get out there and play," Knoblauch said. "And just deal with the hurting I guess. That's going to be the bottom line.

"It's going to be up to me and the team. I certainly don't want to get into a position to go out there and hurt the team with my arm hurting. There's a fine line of playing hurt and playing stupid."