All-Star Game trips are a tradition for two brothers after a near-death experience: ‘Just keep living, baby’

Independence Mall was completely transformed for MLB’s 2026 All-Star red carpet. A crowd of fans filled the center, lining the zigzag path as they watched the league’s best players arrive in style ahead of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. And as each player passed, two brothers could be heard through it all.

Evan, 33, and Brent Folan, 35, made the trip from Puerto Rico, where they’ve been living the past two years, to attend this year’s All-Star Weekend. The trip marked the fourth All-Star Weekend the Folans attended as part of their annual brothers’ trip, a tradition that began after Evan’s near-death experience in 2019.

With Independence Hall right behind them, the Texas natives were appropriately dressed for this year’s stop in Philadelphia. They called their outfits “the freedom look,” which consisted of the American flag overalls they’ve worn to almost every sporting event they’ve attended.

The Folans even caught the attention of a certain green, furry creature with similar fashion sense.

The Folan brothers said they wanted to “spread positivity” throughout the afternoon, and did so by cheering for anyone who walked the red carpet, whether it was the players, mascots, ball girls, or staffers.

“This event is so much fun,” Brent said. “Baseball fans from all over the country, even the world, are here. So, just love each other. It’s amazing. It unites us all and everybody deserves to be celebrated.”

» READ MORE: Brandon Marsh’s dad died of cancer in 2021. He found a way to honor him in his first All-Star Game.

The Folans’ goal is to “bring happiness” wherever they go. It’s a life lesson they learned in 2019 when Evan needed to be revived after a car crash in which he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, leaving him with short term memory loss.

“We’re just best friends, we love each other and we want to spend as much time as we can together,” Evan said. “I have really bad short term memory. … I’m not going to remember this tomorrow. So I’m just living in the moment with my brother, just enjoying life because it was taken away from me momentarily.”

Evan now has a book titled Forgetting to Remember, which shares the story of rebuilding his life following the accident. He also started the clothing brand Toro and Tides to support and raise awareness for those suffering brain injuries.

After a tire flew through his window, Evan was in a coma for two days, suffered a broken neck, a fractured skull, and significant brain bleeding. He was told that his memory would continue to decline and he’ll more than likely develop dementia.

But since the incident, Evan and Brent have traveled across the globe to different sporting events. And this year has been busier than ever — they’ve flown to Milan and Cortina for the Winter Olympics, attended the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico, and hit four cities in their World Cup tour.

» READ MORE: This 17-year-old from Lower Merion was booed during the Home Run Derby. He called it ‘an honor.’

“I mean, it’s a different life that he’s living now, but it’s something we grew up on,” Brent said. “We love each other, we’re best friends, and it’s going to keep us connected no matter what happens. So we’re going to do it every year that we can.”

During the red carpet, the Folans caught the attention of 33 players, getting signatures from players like Juan Soto. They also got Yoshinobu Yamamoto, after chanting the Japanese phrase san kudasai, a plea for an autograph which they learned from a Japanese cameraman before the red carpet began.

During last year’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta, Evan caught a home run from Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz in the semifinals, which happened to be a rare bonus ball hit. That luck continued this year when Brent caught a signed home run ball from Philly’s own Kyle Schwarber.

“This is amazing,” Brent said. “All-Star Weekend, this is the closest you’ll get to the players, like the actual All-Stars. The All-Star Village is cool but these are the guys you’re going to be seeing playing in the Home Run Derby, playing in the All-Star Game. You’re literally a foot from them. So, getting to talk to them, seeing they’re human, getting a laugh out of them, it’s been amazing.”

After a successful weekend — catching Schwarbombs, getting nearly three dozen red-carpet signatures, and most importantly, spending quality time with one another — the Folans have a piece of advice for everyone willing to listen.

“Just keep living, baby. Live life,” Brent said. “You never know what’s going to happen so just do what makes you happy.

Evan added: “Spread positivity and bring happiness.”