I think Stearns loved him, but Counsell doesn't appreciate a no-glove, high-K guy. This dynamic led to the absurd decision to burn his final option in the midst of a productive streak last year, when trading him was the only logical move.
The lack of options and bad finish to the 2022 season depleted Hiura's value, so Arnold guaranteed him $2.2m for 2023 in the offseason rather than sell low.
Hiura was awful in Spring, so too expensive for other teams and outrighted to AAA. But 9 homers in his first 19 games had him deserved of a promotion, only hindered by a 5 BB / 22 K ratio. He remedied that enough over the next 4 games and should have joined the Crew or been traded on May 1st. Arnold was gun-shy and missed the window.
Hiura would have helped the MLB squad for those next 10 days, then got hurt May 12th. And now here we are, with him trying to round back into form 2 months later.