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MESA, Ariz. — Dustin Fowler’s first game back from a last year’s season-ending knee injury was a success, but one play gave him a quick flashback on that brutal injury.

In the fourth inning of Sunday’s 4-4 tie against the Royals, Fowler fouled a pitch from Jake Newberry that bounced in the dirt and jumped back up to hit his knee. It was the same right knee he spent months rehabbing since the devastating injury he sustained last June.

The impact was very light and Fowler roped a single into right field soon after. But feeling the ball make contact with the knee gave Fowler a small reminder of how far he’s come to get back.

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After surgery, A.J. Puk on pace to pitch in spring training 2021 “Obviously you had that reminder somewhere in part of this game that I had to remember that something happened,” Fowler said. “It’s part of it. I’m glad I finally got a game in me so I can stop anticipating stuff.”

Fowler, 23, played a full five innings in his first game of the Cactus League, going 1 for 2 with a single and a walk while also seeing some action in center field with a couple of balls that were hit his way.

The A’s will be cautious with how much they use Fowler early on, giving him the next two games off before returning Wednesday against the Cubs, but manager Bob Melvin was pleased to see a fully healthy Fowler play well.

“He was excited about playing today and made a really good impression,” Melvin said. “You watch him in center field, he’s moving with every swing. Seems really graceful in the outfield. Got a hit, which I know made him feel good. Got on base a couple of times. It was nice.”

A.J. Puk, who was the A’s starting pitcher on Sunday, was among many of Fowler’s teammates who have been pulling for him to finally get to this point after what has been a grueling rehab process over the last seven months.

“It’s great after all he’s been through,” Puk said. “He looked good, especially for being out for over a year. It was cool to see.”

Fowler even surprised himself with how smooth things went in his first game back. While hitters can tend to be overly aggressive making their return, Fowler displayed nice plate discipline by drawing a walk in his second at-bat of the day.

“I was expecting to be a little more ambushy and have quick at-bats, but I’m glad I was able to have long at-bats and see as many pitches as I can,” Fowler said. “I take as much out of every at-bat because it was so long.”

A’s outfielder Dustin Fowler on when he thinks he’ll be ready to play every day pic.twitter.com/bjEVr4d6J8 — Martin Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 26, 2018

While he feels ready to play on an everyday basis right now, Fowler is fine with heeding the advice of the trainers and taking it slowly.

He waited over seven months to get to this point, so a couple of days are nothing.