Local fortune teller Jimmy Rollins will leave his profession of nearly 10 years to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a successful leadoff hitter in professional baseball.

“It’s been years since I’ve made good on any of my predictions, so I figure I’d cut my losses and give baseball a try,” said Rollins, who was a standout high school baseball player in Oakland, CA, but fell into the fortune telling game after graduation. “They say you never really leave the [soothsaying] game once you get in, but I’m done. It’s over. Time to go after the dream.”

The Phillies have extended an invitation to the retired prognosticator to come to Spring Training and compete with Juan Castro for the open shortstop position. Manager Charlie Manuel also promised him a shot at leading off if he makes the final 25-man roster.

“He’s a high energy guy with loads of speed and talent,” Manuel said of Rollins. “If he can just get on base — consistently — ahead of our big hitters, there’s no telling how far our team can go. It’s been a while since we’ve had a guy that could get on base at the top of our order. Typically, that’s what you need in a leadoff hitter: to get on base. Hopefully Jimmy will get on base for us.”

Manuel would later add that Rollins needs to “get his ass on base.”